HALLER ON TARGET AS DORTMUND CRUSHES FREIBURG FOR FOURTH STRAIGHT WIN

With Sebastien Haller scoring for the first time after his return from cancer treatment, Borussia Dortmund thrashed Freiburg 5-1 in the Bundesliga on Saturday, moving their team into third place.

The Ruhr valley club, which has four victories in its last four league games since the league’s restart and will play Chelsea in the round of 16 on February 15, was in excellent form. It now has 37 points, which is more than champions Bayern Munich, who are in second place and playing at VfL Wolfsburg on Sunday.

After defeating Mainz 05, Union Berlin now leads with 39 points.

Kiliann Sildillia made a mistake early on, receiving two yellow cards in three minutes, dropping Freiburg, who slid to sixth position with 34 points, to 10 men in the 17th minute.

The former Freiburg defender Nico Schlotterbeck quickly took advantage of Dortmund’s advantage by rifling in a goal from the tightest of angles in the 26th minute.

Dortmund had Freiburg firmly on the back foot when Lucas Hoeler scored against the run of play towards the conclusion of the first half after the hosts had failed to clear a loose ball.

After the break, though, Dortmund scored twice in a span of three minutes, rapidly restoring order.

Karim Adeyemi was set up by Jude Bellingham with a backheel flick, and the Germany international scored their second goal in the 48th minute by slipping the ball past goalkeeper Mark Flekken.

Haller then scored his first competitive goal for the team, heading in a cross in the 51st minute after returning this year after enduring operations and treatment for testicular cancer that was discovered just weeks after he had signed for the club last July.

In the 55th minute, when he was left unmarked in front of goal at the far post, Dortmund captain Marco Reus should have added another goal, but his effort hit the crossbar.

In the 69th minute, Julian Brandt’s long-range attempt off the post went in for a goal, and in the 82nd minute, Gio Reyna sealed Freiburg’s victory after Freiburg coach Christian Streich was also dismissed for disobedience.