BERLIN: Borussia Dortmund slumped to a 2-1 defeat at Augsburg in the Bundesliga on Saturday and were left with 10 men as they suffered two defeats in five days.

Alexis Claude-Maurice struck twice for Augsburg as Dortmund lost again after Tuesday’s 5-2 reverse away to Real Madrid after wasting a 2-0 lead in the Champions League.

Dortmund, Champions League finalists last season, have not won any of their four away games in the Bundesliga this season and remain in seventh place on 13 points after two defeats and a win in their last three league games.

The latest loss also piles the pressure on coach Nuri Sahin, in his first season in charge, after he was heavily criticised for his team wasting their 2-0 lead over Real and conceding five goals in the second half.

“The goals we conceded, just insane, and now we are leaving empty handed again,” said Sahin. “It’s too easy to score goals against us. When you concede two goals a game it’s going to be hard to get a win.”

Dortmund had the perfect start as they struck on the break with Donyell Malen slotting in for a fourth minute lead.

But there was little else that came from the Dortmund attack in the first half and Augsburg got an unexpected equaliser in the 25th when Claude-Maurice broke through, found no resistance from four players and lots of space to drill in from 25 metres.

The Frenchman, making his first league start for Augsburg, netted a second to complete the comeback five minutes after the restart, curling a low shot home from the edge of the box.

Dortmund had substitute Almugera Kabar sent off for a second booking on his league debut in stoppage time.

Meanwhile, RB Leipzig provisionally took over top spot on 20 points with a 3-1 home victory over Freiburg.

Ritsu Doan gave Freiburg an early lead but a goal each by Benjamin Henrich, Lutsharel Geertruida and Lois Openda sealed the victory for the hosts.

In Saturday’s late game, Bayer Leverkusen were held 2-2 at Werder Bremen despite twice taking the lead.

Bremen’s Marvin Ducksch’s 74-minute goal cancelled out Victor Boniface’s opener.

Leverkusen retook the lead three minutes later, Felix Agu blasting the ball into his own net under heavy attention from Jeremie Frimpong.

Romano Schmid’s rocket from outside the box drew Bremen level again in the final minute. Leverkusen are third on 15 points.

Elsewhere, VfB Stuttgart won 2-1 at home against promoted Holstein Kiel while St Pauli picked up a valuable point in a scoreless draw against VfL Wolfsburg.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2024