Berlin: Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s second-half goal sealed Borussia Dortmund’s workmanlike 1-0 win over Hanover 96 on Saturday to trim Bayern Munich’s lead at the top of the Bundesliga to five points.
Dortmund were without injured star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who missed his first league match of the season after netting 20 goals in as many Bundesliga games.
In his absence, Mkhitaryan displayed superb individual skill to score the winner at Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park.
With Marcel Schmelzer screaming up in support on his left, Mkhitaryan cut back inside and curled his right-footed shot around Hanover’s Germany goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler on 57 minutes.
“That really looked like hard work out there today,” said Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel.
“We started well but didn’t create the high-carat chances, then it became tough and tenacious.
“In terms of performance, there is much room for improvement, but of course we’re happy to take the three points.”
With Pep Guardiola’s Bayern at Augsburg on Sunday, Dortmund remain second while Hanover are rooted to the bottom, seven points from safety.
Wolfsburg warmed up for Wednesday’s Champions League, last 16, first leg at Gent with a 2-0 win at home to Ingolstadt to pick up their first victory since knocking Manchester United out of the Champions League in December.
Dieter Hecking’s Wolfsburg won for the first time in six games but stay eighth after first-half goals goals by Germany midfielder Julian Draxler and defender Robin Knoche.
Bayer Leverkusen moved up from seventh to third as they bounced back from their shock German Cup exit at the hands of Werder Bremen in mid-week with a 2-1 comeback win at Darmstadt.
On a heavy pitch, Sandro Wagner stabbed the ball home to give Darmstadt an early lead, despite Leverkusen goalkeeper Bernd Leno catching him around the throat with his forearm.
Leverkusen drew level when Darmstadt defender Aytac Sulu headed into his own net on 62 minutes. The visitors then took the lead with a sweeping move which went the length of the pitch.
