BORUSSIA DORTMUND ARE one win away from their first Bundesliga title in a decade, after two second-half goals from Sebastien Haller delivered a 3-0 win at Augsburg on Sunday.
Dortmund are now two points clear of Bayern Munich, who lost 3-1 at home to RB Leipzig on Saturday, with one match remaining.
They now need to better Bayern’s result next week at home against Mainz to lift the Bundesliga shield for the first time since 2011-12.
Despite Augsburg being reduced to 10 men late in the first half, the game was scoreless until the 58th minute, when Haller pounced on a rebound to score the opener.
Haller, who missed the first half of the season as he overcame testicular cancer, scored another with six remaining to send the visiting fans into raptures.
Julian Brandt added a goal in injury time.
Dortmund, who came into the game knowing victory would put them in control of the title race, were winless on the road since February.
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The visitors made the trip south without star midfielder Jude Bellingham, who failed to recover from a knee complaint.
Stuttgart’s earlier win at Mainz meant Augsburg were only two points clear of the relegation zone.
Earlier, a goal and two assists from substitute Chris Fuehrich gave Stuttgart a massive boost in their relegation fight, with a 4-1 win away at Mainz.
Elsewhere, Paris Saint-Germain all but secured the Ligue 1 title on Sunday as a Kylian Mbappe brace gave them a 2-1 win away to Auxerre that left the Qatar-owned club six points clear at the top of the table with two games remaining.
PSG had hoped to officially confirm a second straight championship triumph, and a ninth in the last 11 seasons, but they needed closest rivals Lens to slip up earlier in the day.
Lens won 3-1 at Lorient, and so PSG still require one point from their final two matches to secure a French record 11th title overall.
However, a goal difference advantage of 16 over Lens means they are almost certain to win the title even if they end the season level on points with their closest rivals.
In Italy, Lazio climbed to third in Serie A as they won 1-0 at Udinese on Sunday after Inter Milan, with eyes on two cup finals, fielded a weakened side, suffered a first-half red card and lost 3-1 at champions Napoli.
Lazio’s veteran striker Ciro Immobile won a 61st-minute penalty for the only goal as Lazio jumped to 68 points two points ahead of Inter and one behind second-placed Juventus, who play Monday. After that, all the contenders have two matches left.
Inter hold the last Champions League spot with a two-point edge over AC Milan.
Napoli continued their Serie A title party with late goals against a shorthanded Inter Milan.
With two finals looming — against Fiorentina in the Italian Cup on Wednesday and Manchester City in the Champions League on June 10 — Inter coach Simone Inzaghi made eight changes from the team that beat AC Milan in the second leg of their European semi-final last Tuesday.
Inter’s task became even tougher when veteran centre back Roberto Gagliardini picked up a second yellow card in the 41st minute.
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Dortmund take control of Bundesliga title race after Bayern slip
LAST UPDATE | 21 May 2023
BORUSSIA DORTMUND ARE one win away from their first Bundesliga title in a decade, after two second-half goals from Sebastien Haller delivered a 3-0 win at Augsburg on Sunday.
Dortmund are now two points clear of Bayern Munich, who lost 3-1 at home to RB Leipzig on Saturday, with one match remaining.
They now need to better Bayern’s result next week at home against Mainz to lift the Bundesliga shield for the first time since 2011-12.
Despite Augsburg being reduced to 10 men late in the first half, the game was scoreless until the 58th minute, when Haller pounced on a rebound to score the opener.
Haller, who missed the first half of the season as he overcame testicular cancer, scored another with six remaining to send the visiting fans into raptures.
Julian Brandt added a goal in injury time.
Dortmund, who came into the game knowing victory would put them in control of the title race, were winless on the road since February.
The visitors made the trip south without star midfielder Jude Bellingham, who failed to recover from a knee complaint.
Stuttgart’s earlier win at Mainz meant Augsburg were only two points clear of the relegation zone.
Earlier, a goal and two assists from substitute Chris Fuehrich gave Stuttgart a massive boost in their relegation fight, with a 4-1 win away at Mainz.
Elsewhere, Paris Saint-Germain all but secured the Ligue 1 title on Sunday as a Kylian Mbappe brace gave them a 2-1 win away to Auxerre that left the Qatar-owned club six points clear at the top of the table with two games remaining.
PSG had hoped to officially confirm a second straight championship triumph, and a ninth in the last 11 seasons, but they needed closest rivals Lens to slip up earlier in the day.
Lens won 3-1 at Lorient, and so PSG still require one point from their final two matches to secure a French record 11th title overall.
However, a goal difference advantage of 16 over Lens means they are almost certain to win the title even if they end the season level on points with their closest rivals.
In Italy, Lazio climbed to third in Serie A as they won 1-0 at Udinese on Sunday after Inter Milan, with eyes on two cup finals, fielded a weakened side, suffered a first-half red card and lost 3-1 at champions Napoli.
Lazio’s veteran striker Ciro Immobile won a 61st-minute penalty for the only goal as Lazio jumped to 68 points two points ahead of Inter and one behind second-placed Juventus, who play Monday. After that, all the contenders have two matches left.
Inter hold the last Champions League spot with a two-point edge over AC Milan.
Napoli continued their Serie A title party with late goals against a shorthanded Inter Milan.
With two finals looming — against Fiorentina in the Italian Cup on Wednesday and Manchester City in the Champions League on June 10 — Inter coach Simone Inzaghi made eight changes from the team that beat AC Milan in the second leg of their European semi-final last Tuesday.
Inter’s task became even tougher when veteran centre back Roberto Gagliardini picked up a second yellow card in the 41st minute.
– © AFP 2023
Updated at 22.50 with details from France and Italy
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