Staff Reporter.
Erling Braut Haaland scored twice as Borussia Dortmund thrashed fourth-placed Freiburg 5-1 to move within three points of Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich.
The 21-year-old Norwegian, who scored the third and fourth, has now scored 78 goals in 77 matches for Dortmund.
Thomas Meunier put the hosts in control with two early headers.
Ermedin Demirovic gave the visitors hope at 3-1, but Mahmoud Dahoud capped a dominant Dortmund display late on.
Haaland’s impressive goalscoring record also includes 55 goals in 56 Bundesliga matches.
Dortmund have 40 points in second place, three behind Bayern who visit Cologne on Saturday. Freiburg stay fourth on 30.
“Five goals sounds good. The first half was a top performance,” said Dortmund coach Marco Rose. “In the second half we eased a bit off and allowed them to pull a goal back. But it was a deserved win. “We took a good step today and we have to keep at it. We have the quality to play good games. We have now won two games in a row, are three points off Bayern. But what’s important is to be consistent so that we have a chance to bring the title to Dortmund.”
The hosts, however, had Meunier and Emre Can taken off injured, with Rose saying it was not yet clear if they would be sidelined and for how long.
“It would be bad if Thomas would now be missing. He twisted his ankle. He just scored two goals. With Emre we still have to see,” he added.