Borussia Dortmund 2-0 Borussia Monchengladbach

Perisic and Kagawa trigger celebrations as Jurgen Klopp's men retain Bundesliga crown

A goal either side of half time was enough for BVB as they cruised to their second consecutive title with two games to spare as they were rarely threatened by Lucien Favre's team

Jubilant scenes marked Borussia Dortmund's retention of the Bundesliga title with a comfortable 2-0 win over Borussia Monchengladbach at the Signal Iduna Park.

Franck Ribery's late winner for Bayern Munich earlier in the day meant that BVB needed just a point to secure back-to-back championships and they showed no signs of complacency as they dominated from the off. Goals from Ivan Perisic and Shinji Kagawa either side of the break were enough to ensure the title stayed in Dortmund.

The hosts began the game brightly with the Polish combination of Lukas Piszczek and Jakub "Kuba" Blaszczykowski attacking well down the right while Gladbach were clearly looking to stretch the hosts on the break.

In the 10th minute Robert Lewandowski picked the ball up 25 yards from goal. He tried to pick out the bottom corner but Marc-Andre ter Stegen managed to get down and make the slightest of contact, turning the ball behind for a corner.

Ten minutes later Marcel Schmelzer broke forward on the left and centred the ball. Kagawa could only prod the cross onto the post and Lewandowski then stole in to drill a shot on goal from eight yards out but ter Stegen spread himself well to block the shot.

Dortmund were on top of the game and the breakthrough came in the 23rd minute. Schmelzer's superbly executed in-swinging free kick was met by the head of an unmarked Perisic who nodded in at the near post.

But for a goal chalked off for offside, Lucien Favre's side had rarely threatened the BVB defence and eight minutes before the break Dortmund could have enhanced their lead. Mats Hummels beat the offside trap but his volley was met with a sublime reaction save by ter Stegen.

The game seemed to be locked into a pedestrian pace, but nine minutes after the break Gladbach almost restored parity.

Marco Reus lifted the ball over Schmelzer and picked it up the other side where he then nodded the ball past Roman Weidenfeller. The BVB left-back had got back to cover his keeper and obstructed Reus' effort on its path to the net.

That block proved crucial and spurred Dortmund on to increase their lead. A lightning-fast break ended with Lewandowski slipping the ball into Kagawa who rounded ter Stegen with his first touch, slotted the ball home with his second, and was joined in celebration by Jurgen Klopp at the corner flag.

It was a huge relief for BVB and they stepped off the gas soon after. Lewandowski forced the Gladbach keeper into another save just after the hour mark but Dortmund spent the rest of the game holding the ball and soaking up the crowd's adulation.

The victory secured Dortmund their second consecutive Bundesliga title with two games to spare and they can now look forward to another crack at the Champions League next season. Gladbach meanwhile need just a point from their remaining fixtures to secure a place in the same tournament.

Source: goal.com

Champions League: Arsenal 2 Borussia Dortmund 1

It's him again! RVP's deadly double seals progress

Arsenal may occupy an unusual place in the Barclays Premier League table, but it is business as usual in Europe.

Arsene Wenger’s side became the first English side to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League and, as they progressed for the 12th consecutive season, Robin van Persie was again the difference, scoring two goals  to take his tally to 38 in 41 games in 2011.

While the Manchester clubs have set the domestic League alight but struggled in Europe, Arsenal will finish top of a group containing Marseille, Borussia Dortmund and Olympiakos — no mean feat,  especially when you consider that even reaching the group stage, via a play-off victory over Udinese, looked an arduous task in August. Crisis? What crisis?

Flying Dutchman: Robin van Persie breaks the deadlock with a header in the second half

Van Persie slots home his second goal of the night to seal the win

Winning Group F also delays the almost inevitable meeting with Barcelona — and former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas — in the latter stages of the competition.

In his programme notes, Wenger talked about the ‘growth’ of this team, who have won 11 of their 13 matches since they drew 1-1 against Dortmund on September 13.

The discipline is still sometimes lacking, as substitute Johan Djourou demonstrated with the lapse of concentration that led to Shinji Kagawa’s stoppage-time consolation goal, but things are steadily gelling and improving.

Dortmund also had an indifferent start to their domestic campaign but beat Bundesliga leaders  Bayern Munich 1-0 at the weekend. At the Emirates, they were confident in possession, passing the ball around neatly in the opening half an hour without really threatening goal. It was just like Arsenal can be: zippy and intricate but missing the end product.

Kagawa’s fifth-minute shot was easily gathered by Wojciech  Szczesny, who also watched  Robert Lewandowski’s right-foot shot fizz wide.
Mario Gotze, the 19-year-old who will cost in excess of £30million to prise away from Dortmund, played only 28 minutes. 

With his long sleeves and gloves on a relatively mild night at the Emirates, the German looked like a potential Arsenal player and, although  hampered by injury, there were still flashes of why he is rated so highly.

Jump for joy: Mikel Arteta (second left), Aaron Ramsey and Yossi Benayoun congratulates Van Persie

His balance and easy manner of covering ground is similar to that of Jack Wilshere and he showed a willingness to play little one-twos. 

Dortmund flooded the centre of midfield when Arsenal got the ball and the hosts struggled to break them down in the first half. Pace was the Premier League side’s best asset, with Theo Walcott breaking through twice in the first 20 minutes before having an effort disallowed for offside.

Mats Hummels recovered to thwart the winger’s first run then a delightful chipped ball over the top from Aaron Ramsey was smothered by goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller with Walcott closing in quickly.

The 22-year-old then turned  provider, swinging in an exquisite cross after a pass from Ramsey that Weidenfeller just managed to palm away under pressure from Van Persie.

It was Arsenal’s turn to be exposed by pace at the start of the second half, as the lively Lewandowski and Kagawa combined again to send the latter through on goal. Per Mertesacker looked a relieved man as the Japan striker’s low shot was saved by Szczesny.

Yet, with Van Persie in their side, Arsenal must always be confident of scoring. Wenger admitted he has ‘never had a striker on this kind of a run’ before and the Dutchman pounced again after 49 minutes.

Alex Song sent a chipped right-foot cross to the far post after a sensational run from just inside the halfway line. Weidenfeller got a hand to Van Persie’s header but could not stop the Arsenal captain. Few can in this sort of form.

Gervinho has been a willing ally for Van Persie this season but could have done with the striker’s poise in front of goal 10 minutes later. Instead of shooting early after Ramsey’s pass, he dithered and Weidenfeller intercepted.

The Emirates became strangely quiet when Van Persie fell awkwardly and there was a collective sigh of relief when the 28-year-old, who has so often struggled with injury, dusted himself down and played on, allowing him to score Arsenal’s second in the 86th minute

It was a classic training-ground routine. Thomas Vermaelen drew the goalkeeper to the near post by flicking on Mikel Arteta’s corner and Van Persie capitalised in the space left behind.

With victory all but assured, there was still time for a final lapse of concentration. Szczesny looked furious as substitute Moritz Leitner capitalised on a defensive mix-up and teed up Kagawa, who stroked the ball home.

Source: mail online