CHANCE! Mkhitaryan tries to get in on the act by steering an effort towards the top corner, but Benaglio reacts to the danger by tipping his strike over the bar. The shot appeared to be creeping into the net, so it's smart work by the Swiss to keep the scoreline down.
86'
A. Schürrle has scored a goal for Wolfsburg! Assist by M. Kruse.
Kruse makes an impact of the bench by sliding the ball to Schurrle for his side's consolation goal.
Wolfsburg notch a consolation goal as a slip from Bender allows Kruse to raid foward, and he slides the ball into the path of Schurrle. The former Chelsea man has no problem beating Burki with a low strike. Composed finish from the German.
85'
PENALTY SHOUT! Mkhitaryan slides the ball for Kagawa, who tries to dig out a strike in the box. The midfielder gets crowded out, but still manages to dig out a strike which hits Naldo. The home side appeal for a penalty, but the referee dismisses their claims.
83'
The home side seem content to sit on their overwhelming advantage by just knocking the ball around at the back. However, they have been incisive on the counter all afternoon through the porous Wolfsburg defence.
81'
P. Seguin enters the game and replaces B. Dost.
Seguin replaces Dost up front for Wolfsburg.
80'
Vieirinha enters the game and replaces C. Träsch.
Vieirinha comes on for the visitors to replace Trasch.
78'
P. Aubameyang has scored a goal for Borussia Dortmund! Assist by M. Schmelzer.
Assist Marcel Schmelzer
Goal Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
77'
P. Aubameyang has scored a goal for Borussia Dortmund! Assist by H. Mkhitaryan.
A simple cross from the midfielder picks out his team-mate for his side's fourth goal of the afternoon.
GOAL!!! Aubameyang does get on the scoresheet with the simplest of headed finishes from close range. Mkhitaryan had all the space he needed to raid into down the left, and he delivered a pinpoint cross to the back post. The Gabonese was left unmarked and had no problem guiding his effort past Benaglio.
76'
CHANCE! Aubameyang goes for the bottom corner, but his strike creeps just wide of the post. Benaglio appeared to have the ball covered anyway, but a decent strike from the forward.
Minute
Description
75'
Aubameyang does down on the edge of the box under the challenge of Naldo. Referee Hartmann awards a free-kick, which will be taken by the forward.
74'
UPDATE! Monchengladbach have equalised at the Allianz Arena. Dortmund could well have the smallest of openings in their quest for the title.
72'
CHANCE! Aubameyang almost makes an impact off the bench as he takes a touch before poking an effort towards the bottom corner, but Benaglio made the stop. Reus was again influential in the build-up as he beat Trasch down the flank and cut the ball back for his team-mate, but the Gabonese failed to find the finish.
71'
M. Kruse enters the game and replaces M. Arnold.
Arnold makes way for striker Kruse.
70'
CHANCE! Knoche comes to the rescue for the visitors to block Mkhitaryan's goalbound effort. The midfielder had unlocked the Wolfsburg defence with incredible skill on the edge of the box before driving into the area. He fired with his right foot, but the defender raced across to divert the ball behind for a corner.
69'
N. Şahin enters the game and replaces J. Weigl.
P. Aubameyang enters the game and replaces A. Ramos.
Sahin replaces Weigl, who was booked in the first half.
Aubameyang returns from injury to replace Ramos up front.
68'
CHANCE! Benaglio denies the home side a fourth goal as he produces a fine diving stop to keep Castro's effort out. Reus was the architect as he raided down the left before cutting the ball back inside to his team-mate. Castro struck the ball first time with a hint of curl, but the keeper was equal to the effort.
65'
Mkhitaryan sends the cross into the box from the corner, but Benaglio comes off his line to claim ahead of Ramos and Hummels at the back post.
64'
CHANCE! Reus carves open the Wolfsburg defence by lifting a ball over the top of Schafer. Kagawa takes control and cuts back on to his left foot to strike, but the full-back does well to block his shot behind for a corner.
63'
E. Durm enters the game and replaces Ł. Piszczek.
Piszczek makes way for Durm as he appears to limp off with an injury.
59'
M. Reus has scored a goal for Borussia Dortmund! Assist by A. Ramos.
A simple pass does the trick for Ramos to open up space for Reus.
GOAL!!! Dortmund notch their third goal of the afternoon as Reus finds the net with a curling effort. Benaglio had done well to keep efforts from Bender and Kagawa out of the net as both players fired strikes towards the bottom corner. However, Reus collected a short pass from Ramos and composed himself to guide his shot past the keeper into the top corner.
58'
CHANCE! Schmelzer has the freedom of the left flank to raid into and he is able to cut the ball back to Mkhitaryan on the edge of the box. The midfielder shoots first time, but Benaglio manages to turn his effort behind for a corner.
55'
Knoche makes a vital intervention to stop Ramos in his tracks in the box. The forward latched on to a sublime through ball from Mkhittaryan after the midfielder had turned his man with ease in the middle of the park, but the Colombian was denied from firing at goal by an inch-perfect tackle. Great defending from Knoche.
53'
M. Reus gets yellow.
Reus goes into the book for a challenge from behind on Arnold.
49'
Wolfsburg win a corner down the left, but Trasch wastes an opportunity to send a delivery into the box by sending his cross right into the arms of Burki.
48'
Slow start to the half as both teams are attempting to play themselves into a passing rhythm.
46'
We're back underway in this Bundesliga showdown.
45'
Referee Hartmann brings the half to an end.
44'
J. Weigl gets yellow.
Weigl goes into the book for a cynical challenge to stop Wolfsburg's counter.
43'
Neat interplay between Kagawa, Mkhitaryan and Castro on the edge of the box, but Dortmund get a bit too clever as they fail to strike the ball at goal. Their lack of clinical edge allows Knoche to nip in to win the ball and send his side on the counter.
42'
Dortmund work the ball well in the middle of the park before Weigl tries to lift the ball over the Wolfsburg backline for Ramos. The striker does get free of his marker, but he just cannot bring the midfielder's lofted pass under control as it goes behind for a goal-kick.
39'
Benaglio has been hot and cold today, but he atones for his earlier mistake by beating Reus on this occasion. The communication between the keeper and the back four has not been great this afternoon, which will concern Hecking.
38'
Weigl almost releases Reus through the middle, but Benaglio makes the decision to race off his line and this time he beats the midfielder to the ball to clear. Decisive play from the Wolfsburg stopper.
36'
The home crowd inside Signal-Iduna Park have not stopped their jeers of Hummels, although he tries to silence them with a run and through ball to Ramos, but the striker just cannot get on the end of it behind Knoche.
34'
CHANCE! Arnold drives the ball towards the net with a curling effort from distance, but Burki manages to get down low to his left to beat his strike away. Good stop from the Dortmund keeper.
32'
CHANCE! Reus should make it three as he rounds Benaglio and fires towards goal, but his effort slams into the side netting. The midfielder was put through by a nice ball from Bender, and he broke free behind the Wolfsburg defence to beat the Swiss keeper, although from a tight angle he failed to hit the target.
30'
Dortmund are making good headway into Wolfsburg territory, but are just struggling for that final ball to open up the defence again.
28'
Castro goes down on the edge on the box due to a challenge from Naldo, but the referee waves play on. The midfielder does not seem happy with that decision.
26'
The home side press on the attack as Reus beats the challenge of Trasch in the box, but the defender goes down. Castro collects the ball from his team-mate, but opts to put it out to allow the Wolfsburg man to receive treatment. Sporting moment from the midfielder, although maybe he would not have been so generous had the scoreline been different.
24'
Wolfsburg raid down the left through Schafer and the left-back cuts back inside on to his right foot to send a deep cross towards the run of Dost. However, Burki comes off his line to claim the ball ahead of the forward.
22'
UPDATE: Bayern are leading Borussia Monchengladbach through a strike from Thomas Muller. A victory would secure the title for Pep Guardiola's men.
21'
Reus is almost in behind the Wolfsburg defence as he coasts past Knoche to latch on to Bender's long ball. However, the linesman raises his flag, although replays suggest that the winger was onside.
19'
OFF THE BAR! Caligiuri almost gets a goal back for his side as he cuts inside the challenge of Schmelzer before firing a rasping effort towards the net from inside the box. However, his left-footed strike cannons off the crossbar and bounces to safety. The run and effort deserved better for the German.
16'
Hummels continues to be booed by his own supporters, but that does not stop him from sending an arcing pass over the top of the Wolfsburg defence for Schmelzer. The left-back tries to pick out Reus on the edge of the box, but Naldo snuffs out the danger by making the interception.
15'
Referee Robert Hartmann gets in the way of a promising Dortmund attack as Schmelzer's pass back to Kagawa hits the official and allows the visitors to clear the danger.
11'
CHANCE! Dortmund press forward again and the ball falls to Reus on the half-volley, but he can only put his effort past the post.
9'
A. Ramos has scored a goal for Borussia Dortmund! Assist by S. Kagawa.
It was a nice through ball from the midfielder continues his fine start to the game as he picks out the run of Ramos for his side's second goal.
GOAL!!! Dortmund double their lead with a simple goal from Ramos. A long ball over the top from Hummels caused havoc in the Wolfsburg backline as Reus clashed with Naldo. Ramos exchanged a pass with Kagawa before receiving a sublime through ball from the midfielder and he finished with in style with a low strike through Benaglio.
7'
S. Kagawa has scored a goal for Borussia Dortmund! Assist by H. Mkhitaryan.
Dortmund take the lead through Kagawa with a close-range finish. Castro released the run of Schmelzer down the left with a sublime pass and the left-back sends a good cross to the back post. Mkhitaryan struck the ball on the volley, but scuffed his strike. Fortunately for him the ball travelled into the path of Kagawa, who swung a leg at the ball to beat Benaglio.
A fortunate assist for Mkhitaryan as he mishits his strike and the ball travels to Kagawa, who finds the net.
4'
Boos echo around the stadium for skipper Mats Hummels. The home crowd are not happy with his comments, suggesting that he would like to leave the club.
3'
Quick start to the game as Dortmund commit men forward down the flanks, but the visitors manage to hold them in check for now.
1'
We're underway in this Bundesliga clash.
Thomas Tuchel's men have a simple formula this afternoon; defeat Wolfsburg and hope that Borussia Mochengladbach beat Bayern Munich, otherwise the title will be awarded to Pep Guardiola's men today. Bayern hold a seven-point lead over Dortmund with three games remaining, including today, meaning that anything other than a win for Tuchel's side will not be enough to stop them clinching the crown for the fourth year on the spin.
Good afternoon and welcome to the live commentary of the Bundesliga clash between Borussia Dortmund and Wolfsburg.
Dortmund gave themselves hope last week with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Stuttgart. Goals from Shinji Kagawa, Christian Pulisic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan were enough to secure the victory at the Mercedes-Benz-Arena to keep the title race alive with three weeks to play in the campaign. Tuchel's men will need another quality performance today to overcome mid-table Wolfsburg, but the club are on a fine run of form with their last defeat in the Bundesliga coming in December against Koln. Their unbeaten run stretches for 14 matches, while their only loss in all competitions came against Liverpool in their stunning 4-3 loss at Anfield.
Wolfsburg have fallen flat since their defeat to Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Dieter Hecking's men have lost back-to-back matches in the Bundesliga against Werder Bremen and Augsburg, while their winless run in the league stretches back to the beginning of March with their last win over Borussia Monchengladbach. Hecking will be hopeful that his side can end their poor run of form today as they could end up finishing well into the bottom half should they continue their slump.
The team news has been announced and we'll start with the home side.
Dortmund have made four changes from their lineup that defeated Stuttgart last week. Mats Hummels returns to the heart of the defence to partner Sven Bender as Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Matthias Ginter drop out of the team. Marcel Schmelzer and Gonzalo Castro also start in place of Erik Durm and Pulisic, who drop to the bench this afternoon. Adrian Ramos leads the line on his own, but will be supported by Marco Reus and Mkhitaryan from the flanks, with Kagawa and Castro along with Julian Weigl anchoring the midfield.
Hecking has made three changes to his side that lost 2-0 to Augsburg. Andre Schurrle, Marcel Schafer and Robin Knoche all return to the fold after missing out last week, and they replace Ricardo Rodriguez, who misses out due to injury, Dante and Max Kruse. Julian Draxler is still out with a muscle problem, although Vieirinha has been deemed fit enough to return to the bench.
Bench news for Dortmund; Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Ilkay Gundogan have returned to the bench following spells out on the sidelines. Tuchel may call on them to feature at some point during the afternoon.
HALF-TIME: Borussia Dortmund 2-0 Wolfsburg
Dortmund hold a comfortable 2-0 lead at the break, but their efforts appear to be in vain as Bayern Munich are leading Borussia Monchengladbach 1-0 at the Allianz Arena. Thomas Tuchel's men had a rapid start to the game, taking the lead through Shinji Kagawa as he converted from close range after latching on to Henrikh Mkhitaryan's wayward strike. The home side doubled their advantage with a neater move as Kagawa released the run of Adrian Ramos before the Colombian fired the ball past Diego Benaglio. Dortmund have had opportunities to extend their lead, but have lacked a clinical edge in the final third to add to their total, while at the other end Daniel Caligiuri saw his strike clatter off the crossbar. Wolfsburg do have threatening players, so this match is far from over.
The players are beginning to emerge for the second half, so we should be underway shortly.
FULL-TIME: Borussia Dortmund 5-1 Wolfsburg
Dortmund have done alll they can do to keep the title race alive into the penultimate week of the campaign. They've put on another clinic of attacking football this afternoon with a dominating perfomance. Goals from Shinji Kagawa, Adrian Ramos, Marco Reus and a brace from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have secured the victory as Thomas Tuchel's men were rampant against a porous Wolfsburg defence. The visitors were able to get a consolation goal through Andre Schurrle, but their season is ending with a whimper as a result of a third-straight defeat.
Thanks for joining our commentary this afternoon. Until next time, goodbye.
The title race will go down to the second-last week of the season as Borussia Monchengladbach have held Bayern to a 1-1 draw at the Allianz Arena. There's hope yet for Tuchel and his team.
Commentary
More…