Borussia Dortmund claim seventh consecutive win with compelling victory over rivals Schalke 04

Borussia Dortmund claimed their seventh consecutive victory with a compelling 3-2 win over fierce rivals Schalke 04 at Signal Iduna Park.

The win moves Thomas Tuchel’s side to within five points of league leaders Bayern Munich.

Billed as the most “intense rivalry in German football”, the match took a while to get going but two goals in three minutes after the half-hour mark sparked the contest into life.

Shinji Kagawa scored his seventh goal of the season to break the deadlock on 30 minutes but Klass-Jan Huntelaar restored parity just three minutes later.

Full-back Matthias Ginter restored the lead for the hosts just two minutes before the half-time break.

The Black and Yellows stormed out of the blocks after the restart and added a third on 48 minutes when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored his 19th goal of the season.

But Schalke refused to give in with Huntelaar grabbing his second on 71 minutes to give his side a fighting chance with just less than 20 minutes remaining.

The bravery of the visitors was almost rewarded with an equaliser but Pierre Hojbjerg was cruelly denied by the post.

Dortmund held on to secure yet another victory – and keep the pressure on Pep Guardiola’s side.

30’ - GOAL! Dortmund 1-0 Schalke - Kagawa heads in the opener - his first derby goal in five years! Ginter crosses a delightful ball into Kagawa who out-jumps two defenders and heads into the back of the net.

33’ - GOAL! Dortmund 1-1 Schalke - the visitors are level! Sane uses raw pace to burst past his marker before squaring the ball to Huntelaar who is left with a simple tap-in.

35’ - JUST WIDE! Gundogan almost restores Dortmund's lead with a curled effort from the edge of the penalty area - it’s narrowly wide of the post with the goalkeeper beaten.

43' - GOAL! Dortmund 2-1 Schalke - Ginter restores the hosts' lead just before the break from the corner. The full back found himself free at the near post to knock in the delivery.

48’ - GOAL! Dortmund 3-1 Schalke - Aubameyang does it again! He extends his side lead after latching onto a through pass from Castro before sliding the ball past the goalkeeper.

52’ - CHANCE! Castro wins the ball in midfield before feeding Aubameyang who crosses for Mkhitaryan but he can only strike his effort straight at Fahrmann.

71’ - GOAL! Dortmund 3-2 Schalke - The visitors have a goal back! Goretzka whips in a cross which Hummels fails to clear and Huntelaar coolly chips the ball over the goalkeeper.

79’ - POST! Schalke are denied an equaliser by the woodwork as substitute Hojbjerg's effort is poked straight at the post.

Dortmund have won the 148th competitive Revierderby against Schalke 3-2. Dortmund have 51 wins, Schalke 58 (38 draws).

Dortmund CAN challenge Bayern Munich for the title – Thomas Tuchel’s side are hitting form at just the right time and if they can continue to perform like this then they’ll run Bayern close for the German title. They are deadly in attack - they looked like scoring every time they got a hold of the ball, even without their playmaker Marco Reus.

Matthias Ginter (Dortmund) – The full back showed tremendous energy to get up and down the pitch all afternoon. He heavily contributed in his team’s victory, setting up the opening goal before grabbing the second.

Dortmund: Bürki 7, Ginter 9, Sokratis 7, Hummels 6, Schmelzer 7, Weigl 7, Gündogan 8, Mkhitaryan 7, Kagawa 8, Castro 8, Aubameyang 8. Subs: Bender 6, Ramos N/A.

Schalke: Fahrmann 8, Caicara 7, Kolasinac 6, Meyer 7, Goretzka 6, Di Santo 6, Aogo 7, Sane 8, Huntelaar 8, Matip 7, Neustadter 6. Subs: Choupo-Moting 6, Hojbjerg 7, Platte N/A.