Borussia Dortmund have dropped down to third spot in the Bundesliga table after succumbing to a 3-1 (2-0) home defeat in their top-of-the-table Matchday 11 clash with FC Bayern Munich on Saturday evening.

Dennis-Julian Gottschlich reporting from Signal Iduna Park

The 81,360 fans at a sold-out Signal Iduna Park saw a BVB side that looked much more stable defensively compared to previous performances and may consider themselves unlucky to have been 2-0 down at the break. Robben broke the deadlock from Bayern's first effort with 17 minutes on the clock, before Weigl deflected Lewandowski's goalbound flick into his own net on the half-hour mark. The Black & Yellows suffered further misfortune three minutes later when Alaba deflected a Kagawa shot onto the outside of the post, before Ulreich made several strong saves to deny Yarmolenko. Lewandowski made it 3-0 halfway through the second half (67), before Bartra grabbed a late consolation for the hosts three minutes from time.

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The scenario:
Second-placed BVB hosted league leaders Bayern knowing a win would lift them back above the record champions and into top spot ahead of the international break. Dortmund (27 goals) and Bayern (24) boasted the best offensive records in the division going into this one. Both teams had created more major changes (26 each) and had had more shots on goal (FCB: 194, BVB: 171) than any other team in the German top-flight prior to kick-off.

Personnel matters:
Zagdadou (suspended), Reus, Rode and Durm (injured) were missing for Dortmund, while the visitors from Munich were without Neuer, Müller, Ribery and Bernat (all injured). Peter Bosz made three changes to the starting line-up that drew 1-1 with Nicosia in the UEFA Champions League, reinstating Schmelzer, Castro and Yarmolenko in place of Götze, Guerreiro and Philipp.

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Tactics:
Peter Bosz opted for a tactical reshuffle for the first time this season, lining his charges up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Kagawa pushed forward from his role in the centre of the midfield trio to support Aubameyang whenever the hosts had the ball, as did Castro, who was playing the holding midfield role alongside Weigl. Without possession, however, BVB switched to a 4-4-2 in which Yarmolenko (right) and Pulisic (left) at times dropped deep to provide defensive cover. All in all, the hosts looked much more stable at the back than they have done in recent weeks. Bayern, meanwhile, opted for an attack-minded 4-1-2-3 formation, which became a 4-1-4-1 whenever they lost the ball. Coman and Robben flanked centre-forward Lewandowski, while Martinez sat in front of the back four.

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Sokratis lies injured on the turf, before being substituted minutes later.

The match & analysis:
It was initially an even affair – played at a tactically advanced level – in which the two teams took it in turns to assert short spells of pressure. Borussia first threatened Ulreich's goal through Aubameyang on the 12-minute mark, though Süle stepped in at the last second to deny the Gabon forward with a monster tackle that put the ball out of play. It was a shame for the hosts, because they really could have made more of their first opportunity and were then punished when Bayern opened the scoring with their first moment of danger five minutes later. BVB failed to properly clear an Alaba cross and Thiago lofted the ball into the box, where it was headed down by James for Robben to rifle home from 14 metres (17).

The goal settled the visitors and they clearly dominated the match in the period that followed. They did so, however, largely without creating any genuinely dangerous opportunities; the hosts defended resolutely for the most part and repeatedly looked to trouble their visitors with bursts forward. Ulreich plucked a Pulisic cross off Aubameyang's head in the 22nd minute, while at the other end Bürki gathered the ball as Lewandowski prepared to pull the trigger (27). This was followed by the best spell of the first period, in which the match became an open and end-to-end affair as the two teams took turns to attack. First Yarmolenko was denied by Ulreich in a one-on-one (30), then Bürki did well to keep out Lewandowski from a Bayern counter (33).

Ulreich keeps out Yarmolenko and Aubameyang

The ensuing corner was cleared and Pulisic immediately launched the next counter-attack, picking out Kagawa to his right on the edge of the penalty area. The Japan international cut inside Alaba but then struck the outside of the post from a centre-right position inside the box (33). Replays showed it had taken a deflection off Alaba on the way through. What came next was an unfortunate double-blow for BVB. First Coman unintentionally stood on the foot of Sokratis, who had to be substituted off shortly afterwards (42), and then Bayern benefited from a huge slice of luck to double their lead. The Bavarians launched a counter and Kimmich fired the ball across the box to Lewandowski, who flicked it goalbound from six metres. Attempting to block the flight of the ball, Weigl deflected it past Bürki and into the net (37). Yarmolenko had another one-on-one against Ulreich on the stroke of half-time, but the FCB shot-stopper made another strong save (44).

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The fans were treated to another fascinating showing of football after the break, with BVB continuing to hold their own and creating their next clear-cut chance three minutes after the restart. Pulisic did very well to battle his way towards the byline and squared the ball into the centre, though Yarmolenko miskicked his shot and Alaba was able to avert the danger (49). One minute earlier at the other end, Lewandowski had squandered an opportunity to make it 3-0 from 4-0 metres out, with Bürki making an incredible stop to clear his close-range header off the line (48).

The Pole missed again on 64 minutes, this time dragging a shot from 12 metres wide of the back post, though he went one better three minutes later as Bayern extended their lead. Alaba sent a cross towards the near post, where Lewandowski got the slightest of touches to steer the ball past the outstretched fingertips of Roman Bürki (67). Ulreich prevented Aubameyang from pulling one back with a quarter of an hour remaining, but then Bartra scored BVB's only goal of the game with a curling effort from a centre-left position 14 metres out. Castro could have made it 3-2 in stoppage time, but failed to generate the necessary contact at the back post (90+1).

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Prospects:
A number of Borussia Dortmund players will now be linking up with their national teams. The domestic agenda will kick off again after the international break when the Black & Yellows face VfB Stuttgart on Friday 17 November (20:30 CET).

Teams & goals