Aubameyang hits hat-trick for leaders Dortmund

Berlin, Germany | AFP | Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang grabbed a hat-trick as Borussia Dortmund romped to a 6-1 home thrashing of Borussia Moenchengladbach to regain top spot in the Bundesliga on Saturday.

Gladbach had no answer to Peter Bosz’s fleet-footed Dortmund, who opened a two-point lead over Hoffenheim at the top of the table before Tuesday’s Champions League clash with holders Real Madrid.

Aubameyang, last season’s top scorer in Germany’s top flight, has now netted eight goals in six league games — one ahead of main rival Robert Lewandowski of Bayern Munich.

Left winger Maximilian Philipp scored Dortmund’s first two goals with ice-cold finishing before Aubameyang’s hat-trick, with defensive midfielder Julian Weigl scoring a superb sixth.

After third-placed Bayern threw away a two-goal lead on Friday in a 2-2 draw at home to Wolfsburg, Dortmund are now three points ahead of the defending champions.

Bayern could finish the weekend in fourth if Hanover 96 beat bottom side Cologne on Sunday.

Hosts Dortmund needed just 28 minutes to take the lead at Signal Iduna Park when Aubameyang, who hit the post twice in the first half, played provider.

A superb pass from Weigl released Aubameyang, who sprinted into the box and squared for Philipp to drill home and then grab a second ten minutes later thanks to Dortmund pressing.

After briefly losing possession, Dortmund defended high up, forcing Gladbach defender Matthias Ginter into a mistake.

Germany Under-21 international Jeremy Toljan left-back pounced on the loose ball and fired in a short cross for Philipp to again fire in.

With Gladbach unable to cope with Dortmund’s pace, Greece defender Sokratis rolled the ball behind the defence and Philipp squared for Aubameyang to make it 3-0 at the break.

The Gabon striker grabbed his second when he hit the post on 49 minutes, but hammered home the rebound and completed his hat-trick by using his devastating pace on 63 minutes.

Gladach’s Lars Stindl became the first player to score against Dortmund in the league this season when he netted three minutes later.

But Germany midfielder Weigl chipped into the top right-hand corner in the 79th minute from outside the area for a superb sixth.

What a statement from @BVB, who reclaim top spot in the #Bundesliga with a sensational victory against @borussia_en! ? #BVBBMG pic.twitter.com/MLtVtq1vGd

— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) September 23, 2017