Reus strikes twice as Dortmund trim Bayern’s lead

Dortmund’s German forward Marco Reus (2nd L) celebrates scoring the opening goal with his teammates during the German first division Bundesliga football match 1 FC Union Berlin v BVB Borussia Dortmund in Berlin, on February 13, 2022. (Photo by Ronny HARTMANN / AFP) /

Marco Reus defied the boos of the home crowd with two goals against Union Berlin on Sunday, as Borussia Dortmund cruised to a 3-0 win to narrow the gap at the top of the Bundesliga to six points.

Reus, who won a controversial penalty when the two teams met last season, was given a hostile welcome in the capital.

He silenced the home end with two first-half goals as Dortmund bounced back from last week’s loss to Leverkusen to claim their first-ever away win at Union.

“Last week was really bad and we wanted to show a reaction today. It’s difficult to come here because Union are a really good team,” Reus told DAZN.

He batted away questions about the title race.

“We don’t need to keep answering those questions, so please stop asking it,” he said.

Team mate Mats Hummels was equally unwilling to talk about his side’s chances of catching runaway leaders Bayern, pointing instead to the fact that Dortmund now has a 12-point cushion in the race for the Champions League.

“I am just happy that we’ve opened up a huge lead on fifth place,” he said.

After leaders Bayern slumped to a shock loss at minnows Bochum on Saturday, the clash in the capital was a must-win for second-placed Dortmund.

Dortmund made a nervy start but took the lead on 18 minutes, Reus drilling a low shot home from close range amid a flurry of legs in the box.

Reus doubled the lead on the counter-attack shortly afterwards after Dan-Axel Zagadou caught the Union defence napping apart with a devastating