Borussia Dortmund returned to winning ways on Sunday with a comfortable 2–0 victory over Hoffenheim at Signal Iduna Park, days after their German Cup elimination by Bayer Leverkusen.
Julian Brandt and Nico Schlotterbeck scored in each half to hand Edin Terzić’s side all three points, widening the gap between third-placed Dortmund and Leverkusen to five points.
Dortmund are now one point behind second-placed RB Leipzig but remain nine points adrift of Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich after 13 games.
Hoffenheim, who have been impressive this season after last year’s relegation battle, arrived in Dortmund occupying fourth place but were second best throughout the encounter.
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Dortmund should have gone ahead midway through the first half when Karim Adeyemi teed up Serhou Guirassy, but the striker failed to convert a clear one-on-one opportunity. The hosts eventually broke the deadlock just before halftime when Yan Couto’s brilliant run and cutback found Brandt for a simple finish.
Schlotterbeck doubled Dortmund’s lead on 60 minutes, guiding a low effort through a crowded box and beyond goalkeeper Oliver Baumann. Guirassy later hit the crossbar in stoppage time, extending his lean spell in front of goal — the 29-year-old has scored just once in the league since mid-September.
Earlier on Sunday, Yussuf Poulsen struck an 84th-minute winner as Hamburg came from behind to beat Werder Bremen in the first Bundesliga “Northern Derby” since 2018. The 3–2 home win lifted Hamburg four points clear of the relegation zone, with 13 of their 15 points this season earned at home.