Sebastien Haller showcased his rediscovered brilliance in Borussia Dortmund’s commanding 5-2 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach on Matchday 32, igniting hope within the team that they can snatch the Bundesliga title away from perennial champions Bayern Munich.
Haller stole the spotlight as Dortmund triumphed in the highly anticipated Battle of the Borussias, leaving their opponents stunned with an onslaught of four goals within the opening 32 minutes. The 28-year-old striker initiated the scoring spree when his deflected shot was skillfully headed in by Donyell Malen for an early lead. Haller’s influence continued as he earned a penalty, coolly converted by Jude Bellingham, before finding the back of the net himself with an audacious finish, capitalizing on a delightful flick from Malen’s low cross.
Beaming with satisfaction after the match, Haller reflected on his outstanding performance, stating, “Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. As a striker, you’re accustomed to these movements because you anticipate the ball, but executing it perfectly requires precision. Today, everything fell into place, and I couldn’t be happier.”
Malen, who played a pivotal role in Haller’s success, praised his strike partner’s exceptional skills, saying, “I’ve witnessed backheels like that before, but it takes true quality to pull them off. He’s an excellent striker, capable of such brilliance. I’ve seen him do it multiple times in training!”
Gladbach struggled to recover from the dynamic duo’s devastating first-half performance, despite Ramy Bensebaini and outgoing captain Lars Stindl scoring to reduce the deficit. BVB had the final say in the match, with substitute Gio Reyna sealing the victory by tapping in a close-range goal at the Signal Iduna Park.
Haller’s back-to-back goals in the league clash against Wolfsburg and the recent triumph against Gladbach marked the first time this season he has scored in consecutive matches. With a tally of seven goals and three assists in 17 appearances, the France-born Ivory Coast international is steadily making his mark. However, Bayern Munich’s dominant win over Schalke on Matchday 32 maintained their one-point lead at the top, leaving many wondering about Haller’s perspective on the possibility of dethroning the reigning champions in the final stretch.
Responding with optimism, Haller exclaimed, “It would be unbelievable! I always maintain a positive mindset and simply think, ‘Why not?’ When I first joined Dortmund, we were in sixth place, so naturally, you have different objectives in mind. But now, suddenly, we find ourselves in contention for the title! I believe we need to remain humble, grateful, and continue working diligently, just as we have done over the past months and weeks. Then, we will see what unfolds.”
