The fact that Borussia Dortmund won 2-0 against FC Ingolstadt takes them one step closer to securing the runner-up spot and remained just a side note on Saturday evening. They have now extended a ten point gap over third place Hertha BSC.

With 44 points BVB has consolidated a very good starting position in the battle for a qualification place in the UEFA Champions League and the team demonstrated their strength at home against the ‘Schanzer’. Despite an average performance, the 2-0 victory meant a twelfth win in the last thirteen Bundesliga matches at Signal Iduna Park.

44 points! Only twice before in the club’s history has the team achieved more points at this stage of the season. BVB managed 46 and 47 points in 1995 and 2011 respectively, seasons in which the Black and Yellows became Bundesliga champions. The club has never before had so many points from only 19 match days, which is yet another record!

After the 2-0 victory against a very strong and well-disciplined Ingolstadt, the football world discussed the introduction of instant replay. The reason is that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s first goal in the 77th minute was caught offside. “The fact that it was in an offside position is undisputed,” said BVB Coach Thomas Tuchel. “We were lucky in this situation”. Perhaps disputable, but in two further decisions Guido Winkmann became the Ingolstadt enemy. In a defensive move by Mats Hummels against Dario Lezcano in the 26th minute he renounced a penalty kick. In addition, he ruled out an own goal by Hummels in the 66th minute because of a foul by Lezcano.

Thomas Tuchel: “We’ve been lucky in these two situations, but there were no other mistakes. We cannot complain ourselves when they are interpreted differently by the referee.” At Sky it was agreed that Winkmann had made the complete right decision in the 26th minute. “No clear outline, therefore no penalty,” said former referee Peter Gagelmann from Bremen. Additionally, ex-footballer Malte Metzelder, who is currently employed in a management role at FC Ingolstadt, said “despite the scenes, I also would have not awarded a penalty”.

Ingolstadt’s Matip: “BVB were the better team”

It was somewhat more difficult in the 66th minute. It was clear that Hummels had been fouled and a free kick was justified. Winkmann explained that according to the view from the video off the pitch “it was fair to award the free kick but it was a close decision.” BVB was eventually rewarded in the second half following a persevering performance. “It took us a long time to find our rhythm but it was good that we didn’t get frustrated by this”, said Tuchel. “Ingolstadt was well-organised defensively. We stayed patient and ended up with a bit of luck,” analysed the two time goal-scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after the match in which BVB dominated possession.

Even Ingolstadt defender Marvin Matip recognised that Borussia “was the better team”. In reference to the much discussed decisions, even if every decision was correct so far this season, BVB would have an extra point in the “truth table”.