Klopp delighted with impressive win

22 January 2012 20:55

Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp was delighted with the 5-1 win at Hamburg in Sunday's Bundesliga encounter.

Klopp said forcing their opponents into making mistakes was the key to their success.

Two goals each from Robert Lewandowski and Jakub Blaszczykowski and a Kevin Grosskreutz plus goal helped Dortmund to a five-goal lead before Paolo Guerrero pegged one back.

"We forced them into making mistakes and took advantage of it. We put in a great performance, and I don't even really care that we won this big," Klopp said at the post-match press conference.

"The most important thing for me is the way we played here. This is a fantastic way to start the second half of the season."

Dortmund have moved joint top on 37 points in the Bundesliga table with Bayern Munich and Schalke after this weekend's results.

Bundesliga wrap: High five for Dortmund

22 January 2012 19:47

Borussia Dortmund pulled level with Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich on Sunday, putting on a masterclass in their 5-1 mauling of Hamburg.

Jakub Blaszczykowski and Robert Lewandowski each scored twice for the defending champions, who joined Bayern and third-placed Schalke on 37 points.

Kevin Grosskreutz netted the opener after 16 minutes when he was picked out near the penalty spot by Shinji Kagawa, and the winger put a simple finish past Hamburg goalkeeper Jaroslav Drobny.

Lewandowski doubled their advantage eight minutes before the interval after a magnificent solo run through a static Hamburg defence, and when Blaszczykowski powered home a precise shot from outside the box in the 58th minute, Dortmund were as good as home.

Blaszczykowski's second came from the penalty spot, and Lewandowski made it five in the 83rd minute, although Jose Paolo Guerrero pulled back a consolation three minutes later.

Elsewhere on Sunday, Bayer Leverkusen posted a 3-2 win at home over struggling Mainz.

An own-goal from Zdenek Pospech put Leverkusen up at the BayArena, and they were looking comfortable when Manuel Freidrich doubled their lead after 35 minutes.

But Mainz turned the game on its head five minutes after half-time, with Eugen Polanski and Marco Caligiuri scoring within three minutes of each other to tie things up at 2-2.

It was left to midfielder Lars Bender to wrap up the three points for Robin Dutt's men, scoring the winner in the 70th minute.

Goetze in doubt for Hamburg

19 January 2012 15:44

Borussia Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp has revealed starlet Mario Goetze is likely to miss Sunday's Bundesliga clash with Hamburg.

Goetze sat out Wednesday night's friendly victory over Oberhausen with an adductor problem, and is not expected to be ready for the German champions' first outing after the mid-season break.

"It looks like it's probably best to give him a few days' rest," Klopp told Bild.

While right-back Lukasz Piszczek is also in doubt for the trip to Imtech Arena, the prognosis is far more positive regarding goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller, who was unavailable for the Oberhausen clash because of a back problem.

"I still have hope that he will play," Klopp said.

Dortmund resume their Bundesliga campaign in second place, three points behind Bayern Munich.