Dortmund return to winning ways 2-0 over Gladbach to go second

Borussia Dortmund beat Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-0 on Friday to move into second place in the Bundesliga for at least a day and end 2025 on a positive note.

Julian Brandt volleyed the opener 10 minutes into the game and Maxilian Beier wrapped up matters with the last kick of the game as Dortmund returned to winning ways from draws in the Champions League against Norway's Bodø/Glimt and in the league in Freiburg.

Dortmund moved past RB Leipzig and are six points behind leaders Bayern Munich. Leipzig can reclaim second with victory in Saturday's top match against Bayer Leverkusen, while Munich are at lowly Heidenheim on Sunday.

"We wanted to kill the game earlier and had our chances but in the end we are happy with the win. We knew we had to win," Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha told Sky TV.

Gladbach defender Philipp Sander said: "We played really well at times but lacked a little determination in the penalty area. It is a bit disappointing."

Süle back and has assist

Centre back Niklas Süle returned into Dortmund's starting line-up from a lengthy injury lay-off on the club's 116th anniversary and soon made an impact when his cross from the right was volleyed home by Brandt at the far post for the opening goal.

The goal stood although replays showed that Dortmund forward Serhou Guirassy pulled down Sander in the build-up, and their was no VAR intervention.

Karim Adeyemi was denied a second after half an hour from point blank range by a huge save from Gladbach goalkeeper Moritz Nicolas.

Gladbach try to fight back

Adeyemi gave away the ball for Gladbach's first chance six minutes later but Haris Tabakovic and Florian Neuhaus had shots blocked by Süle.

Gladbach were now in the game as Dortmund struggled, with Rocco Reitz denied by goalkeeper Gregor Kobel and a shot from former Dortmund forward Giovanni Reyna deflected just wide.

The second half

The ball was in Gladbach's net 10 minutes after the restart but Guirassy was offside before heading home. Minutes later Adeyemi almost scored when he blocked a clearance from Kevin Diks towards goal but Nicolas managed to tip the ball over the bar.

Tempers flared, with Adeyemi furious and substituted shortly after and having to be stopped by sporting director Sebastian Kehl from heading straight to the dressing room.

Gladbach brought on 16-year-old Wael Mohya who almost scored instantly but Kobel palmed the drive over.

Beier fails but then scores

Substitute Beier should have wrapped up matters in the 89th when he ran alone towards Nicolas from his own half but failed to beat the keeper.

But Beier made amends in stoppage time to make the game safe as Dortmund have won 19 of their last 20 home games against Gladbach, who are in mid-table and suffered a second straight defeat after five previous unbeaten matches of which they won four.