Borussia Dortmund moved to within 12 points of leaders Bayern Munich courtesy of a 3-1 victory from their trip to Hoffenheim this afternoon.
Hosting Hoffenheim started the brighter of the two teams, although they were largely reduced to shots from distance. Sven Schipplock had two of those, neither of which he was able to land on target.
Dortmund eventually played their way into the encounter and went on to take the lead with 26 minutes on the clock. Moritz Leitner picked out Mario Gotze on the edge of the Hoffenheim box and the German international in turn sent the ball into the top left-hand corner of the net.
The home team's response to falling behind was positive and they went on to level up proceedings in the 35th minute. On this occasion Schipplock did manage to find the target as he turned in a cross from Kevin Volland.
Visiting Dortmund began the second half with real intent and almost regained the lead when Jakub Blaszczykowski took aim from 20 yards out. However, the Polish international's effort went just wide of the target.
It didn't take the champions long to go back in front though. Marco Reus played the ball into the path of Kevin Grosskreutz inside the area and the midfielder sent an instant shot past Koen Casteels in the home goal with 58 minutes gone.
The match was then put beyond Hoffenheim's reach just eight minutes later courtesy of striker Robert Lewandowski, who sent the ball into the roof of the net from a narrow angle.
The victory has moved Jurgen Klopp's team up to third in the Bundesliga table.
Liam Apicella
