Borussia Dortmund consolidated second place in the Bundesliga yesterday with a 1-0 win at relegation threatened Freiburg with veteran captain Sebastian Kehl netting the winner.
Dortmund were without top scorer Robert Lewandowski, who has a knee strain, but still enjoyed their third straight win.
Jurgen Klopp’s side grabbed the winner on 58 minutes when 34 year-old skipper and ex-Freiburg man Kehl curled home a 25-metre effort which gave goalkeeper Oliver Baumann little chance.
“I told him he’s a scumbag,” Baumann joked, while Kehl admitted he was “very, very happy” after his speculative shot dipped under the bar.
The result leaves Freiburg second from bottom while Dortmund are four-points clear in second, but remain 20 points behind runaway leaders Bayern Munich.
“Those were huge points for us,” said Dortmund defender Mats Hummels. “Only second place really counts for us now and that was a big, big step in the right direction.”
Freiburg began the better with the lively Philipp Zulechner making an impressive first start for the club. Dortmund rarely threatened but were much improved in the second half and took the lead when Kevin Grosskreutz brought the ball in from the left and let Kehl curl in a first-time shot which dipped over Baumann.
He raised one hand, half in celebration and half apologetically, aware of what that goal could mean to Freiburg.
‘Boring Bayern will become undefeated champions’
Jens Lehmann has tipped Bayern Munich to complete an undefeated season – even if he finds them “boring”.
The former goalkeeper, who achieved that feat with Arsenal in 2003/04, was speaking ahead of the Gunners midweek Champions League last 16, second leg in Munich.
Lehmann, who moved to North London from Borussia Dortmund, feels Bayern will easily match his old club’s achievement, but would not be able to manage it in the Premier League.
“More than going unbeaten is not possible,” he says. “That’s the maximum. You can’t do more. I think they will become unbeaten champions. They’re playing a different football.
“I have to say the challenges they are facing in the Bundesliga are not too high. Bayern wouldn’t go unbeaten in the English league.
“Watching them is a little bit boring as well,” he added. “It’s not a pacy game going forward.”
