Dortmund, Bayern register victories
gelsenkirchen — Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho netted a late goal to give the Bundesliga leaders a 2-1 win at bitter rivals Schalke 04 in the Ruhr valley derby on Saturday and send them nine points clear.
The 18-year-old started a quick move down the left and then deftly slotted home the winner in the 74th minute. Team mate Thomas Delaney had silenced the 80,000 crowd with a glancing header in the seventh minute after Marco Reus whipped a free kick into the box.
Bundesliga leading scorer Paco Alcacer then came close with a powerful shot as the visitors confirmed their title favourites tag with a dominant opening period.
The Royal Blues’ fate looked to have been sealed late in the first half when their last fit forward, Guido Burgstaller, who had their best chance on the half-hour, had to go off injured. However last season’s runners-up, already missing injured forwards Mark Uth, Franco di Santo and Breel Embolo, earned a surprise penalty to level through Daniel Caligiuri on the hour.
Meanwhile, Champions Bayern Munich eased past Nuremberg 3-0 in the Bavarian derby with two goals from Robert Lewandowski, to continue their recovery from a dip in form and move into second place.
Lewandowski struck twice in the first half and Franck Ribery added another in the 56th as Bayern found minimal resistance from their toothless opponents.
The reigning champions, who have won the last six consecutive league titles, are on 27 points, nine points behind leaders Borussia Dortmund who beat Schalke 04 2-1 on Saturday. —