Picking up a 2-2 draw in Bremen − in what was an entertaining game for the fans and against an opponent that hasn't lost at home since Matchday 13 − after performing well for 45 or even 70 minutes depending on whose point of view you listen to, would be viewed in a different context if this had been Matchday 22 rather than Matchday 32.

But the result means that with two games to go, Borussia Dortmund are four points behind Bayern Munich, who will probably only need draws in their final matches against Leipzig (A) and Frankfurt (H) given their superior goal difference. BVB still have to face Düsseldorf (H) and Gladbach (A). "Mathematically, the title is still possible," said Julian Weigl on Saturday evening, while Thomas Delaney added: "We're not down and out, but obviously it looks tough." Speaking at the Aktuelle Sportstudio, sporting director Michael Zorc said: "We're not dreamers. While it's not over mathematically, Bayern are in pole position and have extended their lead even further. Three points would've done us good."

The three points were within touching distance, too. Dortmund dominated a team that is usually strong at home, taking a first-half lead through Christian Pulisic and Paco Alcácer in the sixth and 41st minutes respectively. And they created several outstanding opportunities to extend that advantage, only to be denied by the excellent Bremen shot-stopper Jiri Pavlenka on at least three occasions – against Götze (14), Delaney (55) and Alcácer (65). Zorc said: "In the first period, we played outstandingly and repeatedly posed a threat whenever we went forward."

Even though the Black & Yellows dominated less and sat back more at the beginning of the second period, they still had the match very much under their control. "We had opportunities in the first period to put ourselves 3-0 ahead. We then had chances in the second half as well. We didn't manage to convert them, that can happen, but we need to keep our composure," said head coach Lucien Favre in reference to the period in which his team lost control of the game. And it was Roman Bürki, the man with the highest kicker rating this season, who made the big mistake, the custodian letting a shot from Kevin Möhwald slip through his legs and into the back of the net. Zorc, however, could not fault his goalkeeper, saying: "Roman has already saved us so many points this season."

Then came the second error. "Manu wanted to let the ball run behind for a corner. It can't be allowed to happen," said Zorc of the mistake that allowed Bremen left-back Ludwig Augustinsson to keep the ball in play at the byline and cut it back to Claudio Pizarro, who equalised (75). Zorc spoke of "two individual errors that cost us the points".

"We lost control of the match during the course of the second half," bemoaned the sporting director, who added: "We didn't see it through, we didn't put the game to bed. If you want to be at the very top, you can't make mistakes like that."

In terms of points, BVB are having their fourth-best season in the Bundesliga and yet may "only" finish the campaign in second. Only 12 months ago, the team laboured to fourth place. And so Michael Zorc believes there are many, many positives to take from a season where "we're even in a title race with Bayern Munich". And it's not over yet either.
Boris Rupert