Dortmund win at Stuttgart

Borussia Dortmund secured their third win on the bounce, winning 3-2 at relegation-stricken Stuttgart to ease the pressure on Jürgen Klopp's side.

With wins over Freiburg and Mainz preceding the encounter in Stuttgart, Dortmund appeared to be turning their season around. Klopp selected the same eleven that thrashed Mainz by four goals to two, which ended the rein of Kasper Hjulmand.

Dortmund peppered Sven Ulreich's goal with early warning shots - Kevin Kampl struck from 25 yards forcing the keeper to punch clear and then, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had a goal ruled out for offside in the 15th minute.

While Jürgen Klopp's men preferred not to take the risks in the first half against Mainz last week, there was no shortage of attackers willing to commit defenders. It was Marco Reus' careering run through the Stuttgart rearguard that eventually set up the Gabon international - aided by a slight flick-on by Kagawa - who converted from close range on 24 minutes.

Soon after the half hour mark, Stuttgart were presented with a rare sight of goal - Timo Werner adroitly back-heeling a corner kick into the path of Georg Niedermeier who was fouled by Nuri Sahin, winning his side a penalty kick. Florian Klein tucked the ball inch-perfectly into the corner of the net for his third goal of the season.

Dortmund in control

Parity lasted for just seven minutes before another excellent team-move - involving Reus, then Kagawa - sent Ilkay Gundogan through towards goal and he poked the ball under Ulreich.

The Japanese star was rediscovering his form of old before he transferred to Manchester United in the summer of 2012. Kagawa was a constant nuisance, continuing that into the second half where he was close to adding a goal of his own after a slick combination with Aubameyang on 52 minutes.

But with Dortmund controlling the play, Stuttgart limped to the frustration of their home supporters with none of Huub Stevens' changes able to inspire life in the bottom-placed team. Reus ended the game as a contest in the 88th minute, while a header from Georg Niedermeier in the first minute of added time was merely a consolation.

Until tomorrow's action, Dortmund take a giant leap into 10th place with just nine points separating them and a Champions League qualification berth.