Dortmund win and regain the lead in the Bundesliga

BERLIN (AP) — Julian Brandt scored with his back and Borussia Dortmund held on to beat Hoffenheim 1-0 on Saturday to climb to the top of the Bundesliga.

It was Dortmund’s ninth win in nine games in all competitions this year, enough to give them a three-point lead over ten-time league champions Bayern Munich and unexpected opponents Union Berlin.

Bayern, who saw their four-point lead at the top disappear after the winter break, host Unión this Sunday.

Brandt scored for the fourth straight time in the league. Marco Reus fired a free kick and Brandt came forward to let the ball hit his back in the 43rd minute.

“Things are working for us right now,” Brandt said. “A bit of luck is part of it. We are efficient.”

Hoffenheim could have been awarded a penalty at the start of the complementary game. Referee Martin Petersen initially awarded a free kick for a foul by Emre Can on Kevin Akpoguma, but after reviewing the replay decided it was not a foul.

VAR’s next decision was against Dortmund. Marius Wolf thought he had made it 2-0 with a powerful shot, but the goal was disallowed by an apparent foul by Nico Schlotterbeck on Ihlas Bebou.

Gregor Kobel cleared Andrej Kramaric’s free-kick, but Hoffenheim kept the pressure on until the end.

It was the third consecutive defeat for American coach Pellegrino Matarazzo since joining Hoffenheim.

SCHALKE AND HERTHA CELEBRATE

Schalke and Hertha Berlin celebrated victories to boost morale in their battle for tenure.

Conclusion Schalke beat Stuttgart 2-1 at home for their first victory since November and their third of the season.

Dominick Drexler opened the scoring after 10 minutes and Marius Bülter scored the second with a spectacular shot.

Borna Sosa capitalized after a mistake by goalkeeper Ralf Fährmann to bring his side closer to the middle of the complementary part, but Schalke survived after a difficult finish. The Gelsenkirchen side had drawn 0-0 in their previous four games.

On a snowy day in the capital, Hertha Berlin exited the relegation places with a 2-0 win over Augsburg.

Florian Niederlechner started against his former side Hertha, who should have paid Augsburg more for the privilege after the club’s transfer window.

Marco Richter opened the scoring at 61, nine minutes later Dodi Lukebakio sealed Hertha’s fifth win of the season.

Leipzig held on to beat Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1, Cologne lost 2-0 at home to Wolfsburg and Werder Bremen secured a 3-0 win over Bochum.