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Sebastian Rudy had an eventful birthday as the 26-year-old scored the game's first goal before being sent off, before BVB netted three times in the final 10 minutes to win

An extraordinary last 10 minutes kept Borussia Dortmund's title hopes alive, as the Germans fought back to sink 10-man Hoffenheim 3-1 in a frantic finish. 

Hoffenheim coach Julian Nagelsmann was seeking to maintain his promising start at the helm and saw Sebastian Rudy open the scoring against an out-of-sorts Dortmund 25 minutes in.

Nagelsmann's opposite number and former mentor with Augsburg's reserves Thomas Tuchel was without key centre-backs Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Mats Hummels as Dortmund struggled for momentum after their Europa League progression against Porto in midweek.

But second-placed Dortmund were handed a route back into the match when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was cynically brought down by Rudy just before the hour, earning him a straight red card.

And as Dortmund gradually applied pressure, Henrikh Mkhitaryan calmly slotted home the equaliser with 80 minutes on the clock before Adrian Ramos climbed highest to nod in the second following Lukasz Piszczek's lofted cross.

Aubameyang continued his fine campaign with a tap-in during stoppage time to leave Hoffenheim rooted in the bottom two after relegation rivals Werder Bremen and Hannover picked up points on Saturday.

Dortmund, meanwhile, return to within eight points of leaders Bayern Munich.

Missing their first-choice defensive pairing of Sokratis and Hummels, Dortmund struggled to get going as a sloppy touch from Marco Reus – also an injury doubt in the build-up – cut short their first foray forward.

Reus and Shinji Kagawa combined for Dortmund's first moment of real quality 21 minutes in – the latter's cross cut out by Fabian Schar – before Hoffenheim stunned the hosts just past the midway point of the half.

The visitors calmly played the ball out of defence and, when Kevin Volland saw his effort palmed away by Roman Burki on the break, Rudy followed up to open the scoring on his 26th birthday.

Burki will have been disappointed at failing to deal with Volland's initial effort, but when the striker cut inside Julian Weigl and shot at goal again before half-time, the Dortmund goalkeeper redeemed himself with a smart stop.

Tuchel introduced Ilkay Gundogan for Kagawa at the break and the midfielder almost made an immediate impact when he jinked past a clutch of defenders and rattled Oliver Baumann's right-hand post.

And Dortmund's search for an equaliser was aided when Rudy received his marching orders for bringing down Aubameyang when Nuri Sahin and Mkhitaryan were surging forward either side on the break.

With Dortmund already starting to ask questions, the hosts made the most of Rudy's absence to impose their quality as Mkhitaryan collected Gundogan's pass and rolled the ball past Baumann 10 minutes from time.

The turnaround was complete when Ramos, nine minutes after his introduction, headed in his first goal since mid-December before Aubameyang's 22nd Bundesliga goal of the season rounded off the scoring as Dortmund's quality eventually shone through.

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  That's all for our live coverage from Dortmund, thanks for following along. Good bye!
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  Sebastian Rudy gave Hoffenheim the lead in the first half, and it lasted all the way until the 80th minute, but the striker was sent off at the hour mark and it set the scene for a dramatic late turnaround from Dortmund who score three times in the final 10 minutes to claim all three points at the Signal Iduna Park.
• 90'+3'

   

  FULL-TIME: DORTMUND 3-1 HOFFENHEIM.
• 90'+2'

   

  Assist Henrikh Mkhitaryan
  Unselfish from Mkhitaryan who could very easily have taken that chance for himself.
• 90'+2'

   

   

   

  Goal Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
  SIGNED, SEALED AND DELIVERED! He just had to be a part of it! Aubameyang seals it on the break, as Dortmund go through three-against-none. Mkhitaryan slides a pass across and the striker finishes past the stranded Baumann.
• 90'

   

  There will be three minutes added on at the end of the match.
• 88'

   

  HE'S MISSED IT! You don't figure a striker of his calibre would miss from there, but Bicakcic does just enough to put off Aubameyang as his shot lifts onto the roof of the net following a wonderful delivery from Reus!
• 86'

   

  SubstitutionMark Uth Pirmin Schwegler
  Final change for the visitors, though the odds are severly stacked against them now, as Pirmin Schwegler replaces Mark Uth.
• 85'

   

  Assist Łukasz Piszczek
  Wonderful delivery from Piszczek who put that one exactly where it needed to be for the assist.
• 85'

   

   

   

  Goal Gustavo Adrián Ramos Vásquez
  COMEBACK COMPLETE! Piszczek slides to send a cross into the area and Ramos rises to meet it, sending an emphatic header into the top corner! The striker has come off the bench to secure the late turnaround!
• 84'

   

  SO CLOSE! Mkhitaryan is played through down the left and he whips a ball into the area with some pace behind it, but Aubameyang is just unable to reach his head back and make solid contact!
• 82'

   

  OUCH! Painful collision inside the area as Baumann comes off his line to punch a ball clear, and clatters into Bicakcic in the process. Both players have gone down and the medical staff is being called out to attend to them. Dortmund are gearing up for their final push.
• 80'

   

  Assist Ilkay Gündogan
  Wonderful pass from Gundogan to set-up Mkhitaryan there, and he has an assist off the bench.
• 80'

   

   

   

  Goal Henrikh Mkhitaryan
  DORTMUND HAVE THEIR BREAKTHROUGH AT LAST! The coolest of finishes from Mkhitaryan, who latches onto a great ball in from Gundogan and places a shot in at the far post. Can they go on and grab another?
• 78'

   

  Better from Dortmund, as they move the ball around in the final third with a greater sense of urgency. Mkhitaryan wins a corner, but then just as the crowd starts making some noise, Bender is penalised for a foul on Bicakcic as the delivery comes in and the chance comes to nothing.
• 76'

   

  STAT: BVB have won eight of their last 10 Bundesliga games on a Sunday, including each of the last five (most recently 1-0 at Leverkusen). On the other hand, TSG have lost their last 6 Sunday matches and have failed to score in their last three.
• 74'

   

  SubstitutionNuri Şahin Moritz Leitner
  Nuri Sahin is also withdrawn, with Moritz Leitner on for the final 15 minutes plus stoppage time.
• 74'

   

  SubstitutionJulian Weigl Gustavo Adrián Ramos Vásquez
  Double change for the hosts! The first switch brings with it the introduction of Adrian Ramos, in place of Julian Weigl.
• 72'

   

  SubstitutionKevin Volland Jiloan Hamad
  Hoffenheim's second change sees Jiloan Hamad replace Kevin Volland.
• 71'

   

  It's all very compressed at the back, making it very difficult on Dortmund to find a way through. The hosts are remaining patient in search of an opening, but it's not coming as easily as they would have expected given their numerical advantage. It may be time to throw the kitchen sink at Hoffenheim.
• 69'

   

  SAFE HANDS FROM THE KEEPER! Gundogan, from a similar position to Piszczek, lashes a strike across goal, which Baumann gets down not only to save but to hold onto and prevent a rebound! Strong piece of goalkeeping there to deny Dortmund their equaliser!
• 67'

   

  Good effort, that! Piszczek cuts in from the right and, with his weaker foot, unleashes a strike at goal. It's struck with plenty of venom, but Baumann is able to get across and push it behind for a corner.
• 65'

   

  STAT: Dortmund dropped their first points of the campaign in the reverse fixture (1-1, previously W5). BVB and FCB are the only sides yet to lose in 2016.
• 63'

   

  SubstitutionNadiem Amiri Eugen Polanski
  The visitors are forced into their first change and it's defensive midfielder Eugen Polanski who's introduced at the expense of Amiri.
• 62'

   

  The sending off has certainly changed the shape of the game. Dortmund are enjoying all of the possession now and Hoffenheim's ambition has clearly been altered. Cue the Dortmund onslaught! This is shaping up to be a tense final 30 minutes for the visitors.
• 60'

   

  It's a harsh decision perhaps by the referee. He would have been justified in showing the striker a yellow. Rudy knew what he was doing, but Hoffenheim had bodies back in defence to deal with the threat and it didn't appear dangerous enough for a red to be warranted. The birthday boy is in disbelief.
• 58'

   

   

   

  Red Card Sebastian Rudy
  HOFFENHEIM DOWN TO 10 MEN! Having scored the only goal up to this point, Rudy makes another big splash - but this one is polar opposite to his first! He slides in cynically into the back of Aubameyang to deny a break, and the referee shows a straight red!
• 56'

   

  Hoffenheim get a chance on the break, but Dortmund are able to get enough bodies back in defence to prevent it from really coming to fruition. The visitors have to settle for a corner.
• 54'

   

  Hoffenheim have quickly slowed the tempo again, knowing an open second half would favour the hosts. Dortmund are being made to work not only to find openings in attack, but to keep the ball in the visitors half. Patience is a virtue, but frustration is quickly starting to set in for the hosts.
• 52'

   

  STAT: Spanning multiple seasons, TSG have won just one of their last 13 Bundesliga away games (3-1 in Augsburg in September, otherwise D4, L8).
• 50'

   

  BIG CHANCE! Uth gets on the end of a tidy passage of play in attack and nearly squeezes the ball in at the near post from a tight angle, but is denied by the foot of Burki! Incredible start to this second half which has been so open over the first five minutes!
• 48'

   

  DORTMUND SHOULD BE LEVEL! Gundogan brought on to change the game and nearly does exactly that minutes later, weaving his way beyond two challenges atop the area before cannoning a shot off the woodwork! Reus pounces on the rebound but lifts it over the bar!
• 46'

   

  SubstitutionShinji Kagawa Ilkay Gündogan
  Ilkay Gundogan is thrust into action at the start of this second half, replacing the largey ineffective Shinji Kagawa.
• 46'

   

  Back underway in Dortmund! Has the half-time interval been kind to Tuchel's side?
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  Relegation-threatened Hoffenehim hold the shock lead at the Signal Iduna Park after 45 minutes on a day where Dortmund's normally surefire attack has lacked any potency. Rudy has the lone goal, aided by an unconvincing piece of goalkeeping from Burki, leaving Tuchel's side with some work to do in the second half.
• 45'

   

  HALF-TIME: DORTMUND 0-1 HOFFENHEIM.
• 43'

   

  WONDERFUL GOALKEEPING! It's the first save of the game from Baumann, but what a difficult one it proved to be following Reus' free-kick! The keeper had to scramble all the way to the near post, diving across to get just enough of that effort to turn it behind and preserve the lead!
• 41'

   

  The crowd is growing restless with the home side's inability to solve this Hoffenheim back line. They're struggling to find any creativity, and have been relegated to speculative efforts like Mkhitaryan's latest attempt which Bicakcic is able to block relatively easily.
• 39'

   

  STAT: Victory over Mainz last weekend (3-2) means that TSG have taken four points from two games since Julian Nagelsmann took over. The last Hoffenheim boss to get off to an equally good start was Markus Gisdol, who kept them up via the play-offs in 2012/13.
• 37'

   

  EXCELLENT DELIVERY! Reus slings a cross in from the right flank, and it lands in the six-yard box, but no one is there to attack it! That's an excellent opportunity which has gone begging. Bicakcic clears behind, and the ensuing corner is punched clear with great distance by Baumann.
• 35'

   

  Hoffenheim are refusing to rest on their laurels, keeping the same approach they started with. They're not packing everyone behind the ball, instead keeping their shape admirably and never passing up a chance to hit back on the counter.
• 33'

   

  Still looking for their first shot on target, are Dortmund. Aubameyang is picked out at the end of a good run, but Sule stays with him stride-for-stride as he blocks the striker's effort behind for a corner. The ensuing delivery falls kindly for Sahin, but he blasts a shot well over the bar.
• 31'

   

  This has been a shocking performance from Dortmund thus far. It looks like they showed up to the stadium thinking three points were a guarantee, and they're quickly coming to realise that's far from the case. The second-place club are getting much more than they bargained for this afternoon!
• 29'

   

  SO NEARLY A SECOND! Uth drives forward as he spearheads a counter, and picks out the run of Volland inside the area. The forward cuts inside a marker and tries to power a strike in at the far post, but Burki gets enough of it to turn it over the bar!
• 27'

   

  STAT: Tuchel's side have the best defensive record in 2016 (conceding once). They have kept four Bundesliga clean sheets on the bounce for the first time since April/May 2009. One this weekend would equal the club record (5, on three occasions - most recently autumn 1994).
• 25'

   

   

   

  Goal Sebastian Rudy
  A BIRTHDAY GIFT FOR RUDY! On the day he turns 26, Sebastian Rudy gives relegation-threatened Hoffenheim the lead at the Signal Iduna Park! The striker starts the move and picks out Volland on the front foot. His shot is stopped by Burki, but the keeper doesn't do enough as he puts the rebound straight into the feet of Rudy who bundles home!
• 23'

   

  Julian Nagelsmann will be very encouraged by his team's performance over the first quarter of the match. Hoffenheim have given Dortmund plenty to think about, no doubt about that, getting forward with great determination while defending resolutely up to this point.
• 21'

   

  CRUCIAL INTERVENTION! It's the first real scare for the Hoffenheim defence. Piszczek and Kagawa work a tidy one-two on the right flank, with the latter skipping into the area and nearly squaring for Mkhitaryan, but Sule manages to knock it safely behind for a corner.
• 19'

   

  Dedicated goalkeeping from Baumann! The Hoffenheim keeper reads play brilliantly to come out off his line with great confidence and absorb a cross played in by Mkhitaryan, with Aubameyang lurking in the centre.
• 17'

   

  STAT: Tayfun Korkut was the last visiting coach to win on his first trip to Dortmund (1-0 in October 2014). Since then, eight out of nine first timers have been beaten in the city. Dirk Schuster is the exception - his Darmstadt side drew 2-2 there earlier in the campaign.
• 15'

   

  Despite the large gap separating these two teams in the table, there is little discernable evidence over the first 15 minutes as to which team sits second and which is heading towards relegation. Hoffenheim have been every bit involved in the match thus far and are showing great energy on the front foot.
• 13'

   

  There's a great tempo to the match in these opening stages, but the final ball has let each team down so far in attack. Both sides have threatened to make the most of their openings, which have been there in abundance, but neither have appropriately taken advantage as of yet.
• 11'

   

  ALERT GOALKEEPING! Uth pressures high up the pitch and nicks the ball from Bender. He gives chase, with nothing but the keeper between him and goal, but Burki is so quick to get off his line and sniff out the threat!
• 9'

   

  HAD TO BE IN! A rare mistake from Reus who fails to control a ball over the top. All it needed was a good first touch, with Hoffenheim caught lacking numbers at the back, and the forward would have been clean through on goal from 30-yards out.
• 7'

   

  STAT: BVB are unbeaten in six competitive games against TSG (W3, D3). Hoffenheim's last win in this fixture dates back to the final weekend of the 2013/14 season - their 2-1 triumph in Dortmund saw them end the campaign in the relegation play-off spot.
• 5'

   

  Dortmund have settled in after a positive start from the visitors. They keep the ball well and wait for their opportunity to pounce. Aubameyang's clever ball in from the right nearly picks out Mkhitaryan, but Schar intervenes with an important defensive header.
• 3'

   

  Far from convincing as Burki is indecisive in coming off his line to deal with a free-kick, which results in Hoffenheim winning the game's first corner. The ensuing delivery is met by Volland who sees his effort turned behind for yet another set-piece opportunity.
• 1'

   

  Dortmund get us underway at the Signal Iduna Park!
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  Hoffenheim boss Julian Nagelsmann has made two changes, including bringing on a third centre-half in Ermin Bicakcic as the visitors revert to a five-man back line. Striker Eduardo Vargas drops to the bench to make room. The other change sees Jeremy Toljan replace Philipp Ochs in a like-for-like swap at left-back. Sebastian Rudy and Kevin Volland remains the preferred partnership up top, flanked by Nadiem Amiri and Mark Uth.
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  Three changes made by Thomas Tuchel following their victory over Porto on Thursday. Neven Subotiv replaces the injured Mats Hummels (hip), while Sokratis (adductor) remains out. Lukasz Piszczek has recovered, however, from a muscle strain and starts ahead of Matthias Ginter, while Nuri Sahin gets the start in midfield, with Ilkay Gundogan dropping to the bench.
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  SUBS: Polanski, Vargas, Hamad, Grahl, Schwegler, Kramaric, Ochs.
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  HOFFENHEIM (5-3-2): Baumann; Kaderabek, Bicakcic, Schar, Sule, Toljan; Amiri, Strobl, Uth; Rudy, Volland.
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  SUBS: Weidenfeller, Gundogan, Leitner, Ramos, Castro, Ginter, Durm.
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  BORUSSIA DORTMUND (4-3-3): Burki; Piszczek, Subotic, Bender, Schmelzer; Sahin, Weigl, Kagawa; Mkhitaryan, Reus, Aubameyang.
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  CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS:
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  Hoffenheim won just their third Bundesliga match of the season last weekend, but it still wasn’t enough to pull them out of the bottom two. An unlikely victory today would pull them into a tie with Werder Bremen for 16th and a place in the relegation play-off, but all signs are pointing towards Die Kraichgauer being locked in a tense and arduous battle for survival down the stretch. Up next for them is a massive six-pointer against struggling Augsburg midweek, which could prove to take a bit of focus away from them this afternoon at the Signal Iduna Park.
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  Hello and welcome to live coverage from the Signal Iduna Park as Borussia Dortmund attempt to close the gap on leaders Bayern when they play host to a Hoffenheim side hoping to pull themselves out of the relegation zone. Thomas Tuchel’s side continued their inspiring form with another victory and clean sheet midweek in the Europa League, but they’re still left playing catch-up with Bayern who won again yesterday at Wolfsburg. They need three points to restore the gap at the top to eight, but it’s entirely possible that their main focus will shift over to the Europa League with them firmly entrenched in second place in the Bundesliga.