"This has to awaken even more hunger in us"

The three points are important for three big reasons:

• Dortmund not only maintained the gap to their pursuers, Leipzig, they even extended it to three points. However, the Saxons do have the better goal difference.
• Stuttgart will not disappear off any further into the distance. Next weekend, BVB can even reduce the gap to VfB and turn the duel for a Champions League place into a three-way fight for two places.
• "For us, it was also a statement within the team that we can do it, that we can play football," Mats Hummels said: "If we defend so well as a team, we can achieve good results against top teams. We have nothing but top opponents coming up against us throughout April."
• Edin Terzic enjoyed the victory, which was in no small part down to him, because the players completely bought into his ideas about the way of playing the game, but took it all in his stride. "We wanted to consistently get Bayern involved in duels. That was the key – not giving them time to think in dangerous areas and play with two or three touches," he said at the press conference late on Saturday night, summing up the game: "We controlled the tempo on the wings and closed the gaps."

Mats Hummels' clearance in the 35th minute, when he showed artistic grace to clear an Eric Dier header off the line, was the outstanding moment of the game. "Outstanding play, top class," said Terzic, but quickly added: "It's hard for me to pick out just one. Both centre-backs played an outstanding game." Overall, he saw "a great performance – individually and as a team".

The victory was deserved, even without looking through Black-&-Yellow-tinted glasses. Although Bayern Munich had more possession of the ball (59%), won the majority of the duels (56%) and had more shots (16-11), there was a decisive difference: only three of the Bayern's 16 shots at Alex Meyer's goal were on target, while five of the 11 Dortmund shots were. "Defensively, we laid the foundations with good stability. We gave it our all. And going forward, we were dangerous, both through controlled attacks and in transition," Terzic said. "Not many people would have believed that we could put in a performance like that and achieve such a result here. This has to awaken even more hunger in us."

"The three points will do us good. We hadn't been banking on them," said sporting director Sebastian Kehl, praising his side: "Overall, we were very stable in our game." Edin Terzic also noted with satisfaction: "It was not just the fifth consecutive victory. As a team, we have taken a big step forward."

The other top opponents mentioned by Hummels will come in close succession: Stuttgart, Atletico, Gladbach, Atletico again, then Leverkusen and Leipzig. "We have extremely important weeks and games ahead of us," Terzic said. "If we manage to make this performance a habit, it will be difficult for any team in the world to play against us."
Boris Rupert