Borussia Dortmund smashed 5-1 at HOME to newly-promoted Stuttgart and lose yet more ground in Bundesliga title race

BORUSSIA DORTMUND lost further ground in the Bundesliga title race following a disastrous 5-1 defeat to newly-promoted Stuttgart. Lucien Favre’s side have now suffered three straight defeats at home in the league for the first time since Jurgen Klopp’s days in charge back in the 2013-14 season. Dortmund remain in fifth and five points off […]

BORUSSIA DORTMUND lost further ground in the Bundesliga title race following a disastrous 5-1 defeat to newly-promoted Stuttgart.

Lucien Favre’s side have now suffered three straight defeats at home in the league for the first time since Jurgen Klopp’s days in charge back in the 2013-14 season.

Dortmund remain in fifth and five points off the top following champions Bayern Munich’s 1-1 draw against Union Berlin.

BVB – who were without the injured Erling Haaland – fell behind early on as Silas Wamangituka swept home a 26th-minute penalty, after Emre Can had brought down Mateo Klimowicz.

American teenager Giovanni Reyna then brought the hosts on level terms with a stunning touch and finish from Raphael Guerreiro’s deft pass.

But Stuttgart scored three times in 11 minutes after the break with Wamangituka adding a second before strikes from Philipp Forster and Tanguy Coulibaly.

That was a disaster. It was bad.

Borussia Dortmund boss Lucien Favre

Nicolas Gonzalez then compounded Dortmund’s misery by adding a fifth in injury time.

England starlet Jude Bellingham, 17, was denied his first Bundesliga goal thanks to a Marco Reus offside, while the flag was also up to prevent Reyna from notching a late consolation.

Dortmund boss Favre said: “That was a disaster. It was bad.

“We weren’t good at winning the ball. We made too many big mistakes.

“That’s hard to explain. If you are not good at winning the ball, I mean the whole team, then you have a problem.

“Stuttgart played well, but we were very, very bad. That will not do. Stuttgart played well in the first half, but we made it 1-1.

“Still, we wanted to do better in the second half. We gave up a very stupid goal. That worried the team. We weren’t there today.”

EPA