Three more as Borussia Dortmund ease into Bundesliga top six

Borussia Dortmund scored three goals in a devastating five-minute spell to beat Wolfsburg 3-1 and end the year in the top six of the Bundesliga. Dortmund came into this game without a win in their last three league matches, but produced some stylish attacking moments to thrash Wolfsburg on the road. Dutchman Donyal Malen got things going when he headed in Rami Bensebaini's corner from close range. The visitors doubled their lead through impressive young Germany star Max Baer, ​​who produced a superb first-time finish with the outside of his right foot off Julian Brandt's ball.

Beers became the provider just two minutes later, cutting in a low cross for an unmarked Brandt to find the bottom corner.

Wolfsburg were stunned, conceding in the 25th, 28th and 30th minutes and the rest of the contest was an exercise in damage limitation for Ralph Hasenhuettel's side, although they pulled a goal back through Denis Wawro in the second half.

Dortmund had Pascal Gross sent off after just over an hour, but that did not threaten to derail the win, which left them two points off third place.

“In the first half we played really well, played a very good positional game and kept going forward with determination,” Dortmund coach Nuri Sahin said.

“In the second half we allowed the opponent to come back into the game completely unnecessarily and you have to defend. Then you get a red card, which is completely unnecessary.”

In a good weekend for teams from Germany's Ruhr region, Bochum beat arch rivals Heidenheim 2–0 for their first win of the Bundesliga season.

Bochum, last in the table, took an early lead courtesy of striker Moritz Broschinski, whose expert low volley was reward for Ibrahima Sissoko's quality cross from the right.

Bochum, who brought in experienced coach Dieter Hecking last month in hopes of injecting momentum into their season and saving them from relegation, both teams appeared to have plenty of hunger.

When the second goal came, it was nothing less than Bochum deserved.

Mateus Beroe found space on the edge of the box and drilled home from 15 yards, putting the hosts in complete control before the break.

Heidenheim improved after the restart but the damage was already done and Bochum, who had lost 11 of their last 14 games, closed it out for the precious three points.

Bochum remained bottom during the winter break, but at the end of the calendar year they have collected four points from their last two matches and remain within two points of Holstein Kiel, who are directly above them in 17th.

Meanwhile, 16th-place Heidenheim is in freefall.

Last season, their debut in the Bundesliga was a huge success, finishing eighth and qualifying for Europe.

But now they are reeling from their seventh consecutive defeat in the Bundesliga and are just two points ahead of Kiel.