Borussia Dortmund lost 4-2 (2-2) away to FC Bayern Munich on Matchday 24 of the Bundesliga season.

Boris Rupert reporting from Munich

Borussia Dortmund made a dream start, netting through Haaland in the second and ninth minutes, but then saw their lead cancelled out by a brace from Lewandowski, who scored from open play in the 26th minute and then from the spot in the 44th. The second period was nowhere near as intense as the opening 45 minutes had been, but Bayern still managed to score two late goals through Goretzka (88) and Lewandowski (90).

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The scenario:  
Both teams had been level on points in first and second place respectively ahead of the reverse fixture. But prior to their latest meeting there were four places and 13 points separating league leaders Bayern Munich and fifth-placed Borussia Dortmund. This was a clash of the two best attacks, with Bayern and Borussia having scored 115 (67/48) goals between them.

Personnel matters:  
Akanji, Schmelzer and Witsel were joined on the sidelines by Guerreiro, Reyna and Sancho. There were four changes to the team that beat Mönchengladbach 1-0 in the cup on Tuesday, with Zagadou, Meunier, Schulz and Hazard replacing Morey, Bellingham (both substitutes), Guerreiro and Sancho.

Tactics:  
This was only the second time in all competitions – after the cup tie against Paderborn – that Edin Terzic lined up his side with a back three (Can, Hummels, Zagadou), which was at times expanded into a back five by the wide midfielders (Meunier and Schulz) in Borussia's 3-4-3 formation. Dahoud initially partnered Delaney at the heart of midfield. Hazard took Sancho's place in the attacking ranks, with Haaland in the centre and Reus on the right. The hosts started in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Once Bayern had turned the tide in their favour midway through the first period, pressing high and winning almost every "second ball", BVB responded with a change of system and shifted to a 4-2-3-1 of their own. Can then pushed forward into defensive midfield alongside Delaney.

The match & analysis:
Borussia took an aggressive approach in the opening minutes and did not let their hosts settle into the game. Kimmich lost possession to Dahoud and he found Haaland, who had a shot from 18 metres out that took a slight defection off Boateng and nestled in the bottom corner. 1-0 inside 78 seconds! The Black & Yellows looked confident. Dahoud spotted Schulz in space on the left in the ninth minute. He turned on the afterburners and fed Hazard on the left of the penalty area, whose cross was tucked in at the near post by Haaland.

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Sane's header onto the roof of the net from a narrow angle after a quarter of an hour was the first sight of goal for Bayern, who were now forcing Borussia into errors with their very high pressing and soon had their first dangerous shots through Lewandowski and Müller. Meunier had a good opportunity to shoot following a great pass from Dahoud, but he instead tried to pick out Haaland who was marked by three Bayern players (25).

Lewandowski pulled the first goal back when he converted a cross that Sané had whipped in from the right (26). Hitz then saved to deny Coman (29), at which point BVB switched to a 4-2-3-1 and looked slightly more present. The video assistant referee intervened on the stroke of half time and a penalty was awarded for a foul on Coman by Dahoud. Lewandowski stepped up and converted the spot-kick to make it 2-2 (44).

BVB restarted the game still with a back three but with renewed courage. They hit the side-netting through Hazard in the 47th minute and were then left bemoaning a decision taken by the six referees in Munich and Cologne, who let play continue after Kimmich's foul on Reus in the box (47). Boateng also went unpunished after stepping on Haaland's Achilles tendon in the 53rd minute. The Norwegian, who was bleeding, had to come off and was replaced by Tigges (60).

BVB found themselves under pressure again in the closing stages, but the game still looked to be heading for a 2-2 draw – until play was waved on after a foul on Can by Sané and Goretzka volleyed home from 15 metres out (88). The goal was not reviewed and, with Bayern now in their stride, Lewandowski made it 4-2 from seven metres in the 90th minute.

Outlook: 
The DFB Cup semi-final draw will take place on Sunday (18:30 CET, ARD), with the return leg against Sevilla to follow on Tuesday (21:00 CET). The next Bundesliga game is at home to Hertha BSC next Saturday (18:30 CET).

Teams & goals