Schalke deal blow to Dortmund's title hopes

Borussia Dortmund 2-4 Schalke

Goals: 1-0 Götze (14’), 1-1 Caligiuri (pen. 18’), 1-2 Sane (28’), 1-3 Caligiuri (62’), 2-3 Witsel (84’), 2-4 Embolo (86')
Red cards: Reus (60’), Wolf (65’)

A point behind Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich at the start of play, Dortmund dominated the opening exchanges and took a deserved lead inside 15 minutes when Mario Götze ghosted in from deep to head Jadon Sancho’s sensational chipped pass over the advancing Alexander Nübel. Schalke must have feared the worst, but were handed a lifeline when a VAR review penalised Julian Weigl for handling in the box. Caligiuri made no mistake with the resultant penalty, and it was his corner that allowed Salif Sane to head the Royal Blues in front ten minutes later. Reus tested Nübel, before Matija Nastasic headed over from another Schalke set piece late in a feverish first half.

Raphael Guerreiro signalled Dortmund’s intent straight after the restart with a fierce long-range effort that flew just over, but the game turned on the hour when Reus was shown a red card for a rash challenge on Suat Serdar. Caligiuri whipped the ensuing free-kick into the top corner to extend Schalke’s lead, and it got worse still for BVB as Wolf received his marching orders after chopping down Serdar barely two minutes later. Axel Witsel reduced the arrears with seven minutes of normal time remaining, but there was no fighting the numerical disadvantage as Embolo hit back almost immediately to end Dortmund’s comeback hopes and hand the title initiative to Bayern - though the defending champions missed the chance to go four points clear at the summit with only three games remaining after being held to a 1-1 draw by Nuremberg on Sunday.

Watch: The history of the Revierderby

• Dortmund suffered their first Bundesliga home defeat since Matchday 33 of last season (2-1 against Mainz).
• Götze scored his first headed goal since his effort in the barnstorming 4-4 draw with Schalke on 25 November 2017.
• Caligiuri has converted 13 of his 14 penalties in the Bundesliga. He also scored his first direct free-kick in the German top flight.
• Eleven of Sane's 12 Bundesliga goals have come via set pieces. Ten have been headers.
• Before today's game, Dortmund had never lost in the Bundesliga when Götze had scored (W38, D7).
• Wolf was sent off for the first time in his Bundesliga career, on his 49th appearance.
• Reus received the first straight red card of his career, on his 259th Bundesliga appearance.

Line-ups

Dortmund: Bürki – Wolf, Weigl, Akanji, Diallo – Witsel, Delaney (Alcacer 56') – Sancho, Reus (c), Guerreiro (Pulisic 78') - Götze (Bruun Larsen 83')
Unused subs: Hitz, Dahoud, Schmelzer, Toprak
Out: Hakimi (metatarsal), Piszczek (foot), Zagadou (knee)
Coach: Lucien Favre

Schalke: Nübel – Stambouli (c), Sane, Nastasic – Mascarell – Caligiuri (Rudy 67'), McKennie (Bruma 77'), Serdar, Oczipka – Burgstaller, Embolo (Matondo 87')
Unused subs: Fährmann, Kutucu, Harit, Carls
Out: Bentaleb (not considered), Konoplyanka (muscular), Mendyl (not considered), Schöpf (knee), Skrzybski (muscular), Uth (groin)
Coach: Huub Stevens

Watch: Embolo: "For the fans"