BERLIN: In-form Borussia Dortmund midfielder Julian Brandt scored a freak first-half goal to secure a 1-0 win at Hoffenheim on Saturday and send his side three points clear at the top of the Bundesliga.

Just before half-time, Dortmund captain Marco Reus swung in a free-kick from just outside the box to Brandt, who looked to be trying to get out of the way, but the ball skimmed off his back and into the net.

Elsewhere, RB Leipzig climbed into the top four with a 2-1 home win over Eintracht Frankfurt.

Leipzig took the lead after just six minutes, with Timo Werner chipping the ball in despite losing his balance on the edge of the box.

Emil Forsberg, who assisted Werner’s effort, doubled Leipzig’s lead in the 40th minute.

Frankfurt’s Djibril Sow scored a fine 61st minute goal to give the visitors hope, but Leipzig held on to leapfrog Freiburg into fourth.

In Saturday’s late game, rock-bottom Schalke clai­m­ed a crucial three points in their bid to avoid relegation, beating fellow strugglers Stuttgart 2-1 at home.

First-half goals from Dominick Drexler and Marius Buelter helped Schalke to just their third win of the season.

A late goalkeeping blunder from Schalke’s Ralf Faehrmann, who miscued a shot from Borna Sosa and let it run through his legs, gave Stuttgart hope but the home side held on for just their second win.

Elsewhere, Wolfsburg won 2-0 at Cologne, thanks to a goal from Yannick Gerhardt and a penalty from captain Max Arnold.

Hertha Berlin beat Augsburg 2-0 to leap three places up the table and out of the relegation zone.

Hertha’s Marco Richter and Dodi Lukebakio scored two second-half goals at a snow-covered Olympic Stadium for just their second victory in seven matches in 2023.

Werder Bremen’s Niclas Fuellkrug, scored his 14th goal of the campaign alongside strikes from Niklas Schmidt and Marvin Ducksch in a 3-0 home win over Bochum.

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2023