If the last-minute win in Berlin restored a sense of euphoria, yesterday showed the luck is on their side again. Together the two are a formidable force. "It's a psychological boost for us to travel to Munich as league leaders," said Hans-Joachim Watzke after the fortunate and late 2-0 victory over VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday.

The stadium clock was ticking – and it stood at "90:00" when Paco Alcácer stepped up to take a free-kick from 17 metres out. It was 17:19 CET. At the same time over in Freiburg, Robert Lewandowski missed another chance to put Bayern 2-1 ahead. But in Dortmund, the diminutive Spaniard struck the ball at exactly the same moment as Thomas Delaney, standing in the VfL Wolfsburg wall, made a decisive movement to get out of the way. It was the seventh goal Borussia Dortmund have scored this season in stoppage time and the second time Alcácer has converted a free-kick at the death, having previously done so in the 96th minute of the late 4-3 victory against Augsburg in October 2018.

After that goal, the counter-attack that made it 2-0 and the message from stadium announcer Norbert Dickel about the outcome of the other game ("Freiburg 1-1 Bayern!"), excitement transformed into boundless joy. Signal Iduna Park was heaving, there was no stopping it. "Only BVB will be German champions," rang out so loudly around the stadium that parents were covering their children's ears. There are still seven matches to go, and the toughest tasks still lie ahead. "But it's a psychological boost for us to travel to Munich as league leaders and to know we can edge things a little bit further in our direction if we win there," explained CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke after the final whistle against Wolfsburg. Meanwhile, stand-in captain Manuel Akanji said. "This win gives us more self-confidence. Hopefully we'll be able to win next Saturday too. That'll be very difficult, but now what we need to do is prepare for that."

BVB will head to Bavaria with a two-point lead and even if – in the worst-case scenario – they lose in Munich, they will only find themselves a point behind with six games remaining. Should they win, their cushion will rise to five points. That would be an excellent position to be in with three home games to go. The Black & Yellows have by far the best home record in the division. "We always keep battling, we have a lot of belief in ourselves," declared Thomas Delaney.

The euphoria is back. As is the belief something great can be achieved.
Boris Rupert