It was around 21:00 CET, long after the final whistle had sounded, but fans in the concourse all around the Olympiastadion in Berlin were still dancing and chanting: "Our whole life, our whole pride – only BVB!" Three or four storeys below, in the catacombs of the arena, the prevailing emotions in the Borussia Dortmund changing room were relief and pride. The 3-2 victory over Hertha was, it is safe to say, a huge three points.

Borussia Dortmund had become only one of two teams – alongside Rasenballsport Leipzig – in the top third of the table to take three points at the home of giant-killers Hertha Berlin. Frankfurt, Gladbach and Bayern had all fallen in the capital. It was a spirited showing from a side deprived of four key performers (Götze, Witsel, Piszczek and Alcácer); a victory against the odds, against a strong opponent and in spite of an absurd handball rule.

Later in the evening, a "now astonishingly calm" Marco Reus felt a "huge sense of relief". It was his goal in the second minute of stoppage time that had put the Black & Yellows 3-2 in front for the first time on a rainy Saturday evening in the capital and ensured the three points. According to the captain, it was a "good game from both sides but we just about had the edge. We had a lot of opportunities and we should've been more clinical."

Fifth come-from-behind victory

With more than four times as many chances as their opponents (13-3), there can be no doubt that Borussia Dortmund deserved to win. In what was a top-class encounter that for much of the match resembled a cup final, both teams hit the woodwork once (Grujic for the hosts in the 57th minute, Delaney for the visitors in the 88th). The Black & Yellows had more shots than in any other game this season (25) and recorded their fifth win from a losing position in the current Bundesliga campaign. This time, they even came from behind twice en route to winning 3-2.

At the back, Manuel Akanji spent much of the match watching his team-mates trying in vain to find a winner, having twice cancelled out Salomon Kalou goals through Thomas Delaney and Dan-Axel Zagadou in the 14th and 47th minutes respectively. "I was hoping the entire time: Please just go in..."

"It'll be difficult to stop us with this spirit"

It was Raphael Guerreiro who started the move that led to the winning goal in stoppage time. Jadon Sancho, who now has more assists than any other BVB player in the opening 26 matches of a season (17), picked out the tiny gap that had begun to open up in the Hertha defence and Marco Reus only needed one touch to find the net for the 15th time this term. It was the 19th goal Dortmund have scored in the final quarter-hour of matches, which is the most of any team in the division and testament to the desire in this squad. "It'll be difficult to stop us with this spirit," said Reus.

"The team absolutely wanted to win the match," said Michael Zorc, who underlined the importance of "momentum" and declared: "We're now heading into the final third of the season and we'll give it our all to become German champions." But the sporting director was quick to add: "Next we're playing Wolfsburg, who have had a very good run."

The belief Borussia Dortmund can go all the way has returned. The euphoria on display from the 20,000, perhaps even 25,000 BVB fans at the Oympiastadion, epitomised that better than anything else.
Boris Rupert

Match report: Reus rescues Dortmund
Match reactions: "Winning like that gives you self-confidence!"