Minus Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Borussia Dortmund’s ‘exceptional mentality and will to win’ overcomes Augsburg

'You could feel the tiredness and it was important to equalise just before the break,” said Thomas Tuchel as 3-1 win cut Bayern Munich's lead at the top of the Bundesliga back to five points.

Dortmund's Adrian Ramos, scorer Gonzalo Castro and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, from left, celebrate their side's 2nd goal, during the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC Augsburg and Borussia Dortmund iShow more

BERLIN // Second-placed Borussia Dortmund trimmed Bayern Munich's lead at the top of the Bundesliga to five points on Sunday with a superb 3-1 comeback win at Augsburg.

Dortmund’s Adrian Ramos, in for striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who sat out after the death of his grandfather, played a big part in turning the game Borussia’s way in the second half.

Their coach Thomas Tuchel said Dortmund were still feeling the effects of their Europa League win at Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday.

Read also: Europa League draw: Klopp's nightmare comes true as Liverpool will face Dortmund

“You could feel the tiredness and it was important to equalise just before the break,” he said.

“Then we played with a more relaxed approach and we showed an exceptional mentality and will to win.”

Augsburg took a shock lead at their WKK Arena when Iceland striker Alfred Finnbogason slotted home Brazilian winger Caiuby’s cross on 16 minutes.

But Dortmund winger Henrikh Mkhitaryan dragged his side back into the game with an equaliser just before half time.

Ramos then came into his own, showing great skill in chesting down Mats Hummels’s long ball for replacement Gonzalo Castro to fire home on 69 minutes.

The Colombia international then netted on 75 minutes to give Dortmund the three points that keeps them in touch with Pep Guardiola's Bayern Munich.

The defeat leaves Augsburg just above the relegation places on goal difference.

Earlier, Bayer Leverkusen rejoined the fight for a Uefa Champions League qualifying berth with a 2-0 win at Stuttgart that saw them break back into the top six.

Goals by Julian Brandt and Karim Bellarabi handed Leverkusen a win that put them level on points with fifth-placed Borussia Moenchengladbach and two points behind Schalke, who sit in the fourth place that offers a spot in next season’s Champions League play-offs.

Germany Under 21 international Brandt gave the visitors the lead at Stuttgart’s Mercedes Benz Arena on 11 minutes when he finished off a flowing attack.

Bellarabi celebrated his call-up to the Germany squad for the forthcoming internationals against England and Italy by adding Leverkusen’s second on 49 minutes.

Brandt, 19, could have claimed his second of the game, but his shot hit the post when he got away from the Stuttgart defence with an hour gone.

On Saturday, Robert Lewandowski’s 25th league goal of the season gave leaders Bayern Munich a 1-0 win at Cologne.

Hertha Berlin remain on course to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 1999/2000 after a 2-1 victory over Ingolstadt in the capital kept them four points clear of Schalke in third.

Wolfsburg, who will face Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals next month, needed a last-minute Andre Schuerrle equaliser to grab a 1-1 draw at home to Darmstadt as they stay eighth.

In the battle to avoid relegation, Hoffenheim claimed a precious 3-1 win at Hamburg, while Eintracht Frankfurt beat Hannover 1-0 to leave their opponents 10 points adrift at the bottom.

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