‘Allowed ourselves to be beaten’

DORTMUND: Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund twice came from a goal down to beat champions Bayern Munich 3-2 with substitute Paco Alcacer’s secondhalf winner enabling them to move seven points clear of their great rivals at the top.

In an entertaining encounter that lived up to its big-game billing, Dortmund came out on top, earning Bundesliga bragging rights and pulling away from their main title contenders going into the international break.

Robert Lewandowski twice put Bayern ahead only for Dortmund captain Marco Reus to equalise each time before Alcacer confirmed his ‘super-sub’ status in the 73rd minute with the decisive goal on the break.

It was the Spaniard’s seventh goal in his fourth substitute appearance this season and lifts Dortmund to 27 points.

The result piles more pressure on embattled Bayern coach Niko Kovac, with the Bavarians, so accustomed to domestic success having won the last six league titles, now struggling in their pursuit of vibrant Dortmund.

“We allowed ourselves to be beaten twice on the counter, that shouldn’t have happened,” said Kovac after the match. “We should have been more compact and unfortunately we lost a game which should have been a draw.”

Robert Lewandowski had two of his second-half goals disallowed for offside.

HUMMELS BLAMES ILLNESS FOR POOR SHOW

Mats Hummels blamed illness for his poor performance in the defeat. “I became ill today,” Hummels told reporters. He stated he started to feel unwell on Friday, then felt “really bad” before kickoff, but the Germany international desperately wanted to play in Der Klassiker.

Hummels was replaced by Niklas Suele in the 63rd minute, but not before he made two mistakes, both of which led to chances for Dortmund.