Munich, Germany – Mario Gotze scored in the 65th minute and 0 win over Bayern Munich on Saturday to close within two points of the Bundesliga leaders.
Defending champion Dortmund started the season slowly, but Gotze's fifth goal of the season was enough to give Jurgen Klopp's side a sixth victory during a seven-game unbeaten streak and a second straight win in Munich.
Gotze, a prized 19-year-old German international, scored the lone goal midway through the second half when Shinji Kagawa's pass deflected into the air then dropped to the young star with Bayern defender Jerome Boateng unaware.
The Dortmund man quickly fired to Manuel Neuer's near post, and the goal held despite late pressure from Bayern.
Bayern allowed just its fifth goal in 13 league matches, as its lead atop the standings closed to just two points over Dortmund and Monchengladbach.
The Munich squad welcomed Arjen Robben back from another injury spell, but he was unable to make much of an impact. Both sides created a rare chance before the opener and Bayern's Franck Ribery and Nils Petersen had half-chances late.
Monchengladbach 5, Werder Bremen 0
Monchengladbach, Germany - Marco Reus scored a hat trick to continue his great form and Monchengladbach dominated Werder Bremen in a battle of top-four clubs in the Bundesliga on Saturday, 5-0 at Borussia-Park.
Reus scored twice in the first half and added a third just after the break, as he increased his scoring total to 10 through just 13 games and undoubtedly put more attention his a possible transfer either this winter or next summer.
The young Germany international is reportedly a target of Bayern Munich, and a great performance against Bremen will just fuel speculation about his future.
Monchengladbach moved ahead of Bremen in the standings, moving three points in front of the visitors, who entered the match level on points and ahead on goal differential. Gladbach is just two points back of leaders Bayern Munich.
Gladbach won its third straight and ended Bremen's two-game win streak and its three-match unbeaten run.
Schalke 4, Nurnberg 0
Gelsenkirchen, Germany - Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored in each half as Schalke defeated Nurnberg, 4-0, on Saturday at Veltins-Arena in the Bundesliga to run its unbeaten streak to four matches.
Huntelaar opened the scoring after 13 minutes and, after Raul scored his sixth of the season late in the first half, completed his brace in the 66th for his 12th goal of the season. Huntelaar is the second-leading scorer in the league, one behind Bayern Munich's Mario Gomez.
Lewis Holtby also scored for Schalke, which has won three of its last four and moved into the Champions League places with his eighth win. Nurnberg lost for the fifth time in seven road matches, and is one point above relegation.
Wolfsburg 4, Hannover 1
Wolfsburg, Germany - Hasan Salihamidzic scored a brace for his first two goals of the season, and Chris and Alexander Madlung notched their first goals, as Wolfsburg beat Hannover 4-1 on Saturday at Volkswagen-Arena in the Bundesliga.
Salihamidzic scored his goals 14 minutes apart in the first half as the Wolves snapped a two-match losing streak and moved within one point of a place in the top half of the table.
Christian Schulz scored for Hannover, which dropped its third game in its last four and has just one win in its last five. Hannover is seventh in the league, two points out a a European spot.
Freiburg 2, Hertha Berlin 2
Freiburg, Germany - Stefan Reisinger scored his second goal of the second half 5 minutes into injury time as Freiburg rallied from a two-goal deficit to draw Hertha Berlin, 2-2, on Saturday at Dreisamstadion in the Bundesliga.
Gustavo Ramos and Peter Niemeyer scored in the first half for Hertha Berlin as it gained control of the game, but Reisinger scored in the 61st minute and was on target again in the final seconds when he scored to the lower-right corner.
Freiburg snapped a three-game losing streak, while Hertha still earned a point on the road, where the promoted side has picked up nine of its 17 this season.
Hertha sits mid-table, while Freiburg moved three points off the bottom.
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