Both games delivered goals, intensity and late drama as the season continued to heat up.

DORTMUND SHUT OUT HOFFENHEIM IN SOLID HOME DISPLAY

Borussia Dortmund claimed a 2-0 win over TSG Hoffenheim in their penultimate Bundesliga home game of 2025, with Julian Brandt and Nico Schlotterbeck on target in front of a passionate Westfalenstadion crowd.

Brandt marked his 200th Bundesliga appearance for Dortmund by opening the scoring before half-time. Yan Couto had overlapped brilliantly after a pass from Karim Adeyemi and cut the ball back for Brandt, who passed the ball into the net from close range.

Hoffenheim started brightly, with Wouter Burger testing Gregor Kobel early. Vladimir Coufal made a vital block as Serhou Guirassy was about to shoot, while Oliver Baumann later saved a low effort from Brandt.

Dortmund pressed for a second after the break. Daniel Svensson's back-post header was saved by Baumann, but he could do nothing when Nico Schlotterbeck produced a spectacular finish from the edge of the box, guiding the ball in despite losing his footing.

"We had to put in a very good performance today," said Niko Kovac. "We kept a clean sheet and won 2-0. It wasn't spectacular, but it was deserved."

Kovac also praised Hoffenheim's project. "Something really good is being created under Andreas Schicker and Christian Ilzer," he said.

Dortmund have now lost just one of their last 21 Bundesliga matches and remain one point behind second-placed RB Leipzig. Hoffenheim have suffered their first league defeat in seven games but remain level on points with the top four. Dortmund will next host Bodø/Glimt in their final Champions League match of 2025.

HAMBURG BATTLE PAST BREMEN IN FIVE-GOAL NORDDERBY CLASSIC

Hamburger SV staged a thrilling comeback to beat SV Werder Bremen 3-2 in the first Nordderby for four seasons, extending their strong home form at the Volksparkstadion.

Bremen struck first just before half-time. Romano Schmid regained possession and fed Jens Stage, who drove into space and finished emphatically into the far corner.

Hamburg responded with real intent after the break. Daniel Heuer Fernandes tipped over Senne Lynen's shot, before Albert Sambi Lokonga turned sharply in the box and swept a left-footed finish into the net.

The hosts then stunned the visitors by taking the lead. Fábio Vieira's free-kick found young defender Luka Vuskovic, who produced an outrageous backheeled volley to make it 2-1.

Bremen hit back quickly when Schmid again played a key role, setting up Justin Njinmah to score at the near post and make it 2-2.

The winner arrived in dramatic fashion. Yussuf Poulsen came off the bench and, less than two minutes after coming on, swept Miro Muheim's pass into the corner to send the home fans into wild celebrations.

This was Hamburg's first home head-to-head win over Bremen since April 2016. Bremen remain without an away win since mid-September, while Hamburg have now suffered just one defeat in their last six Bundesliga matches.

Pirates and Swallows share spoils in Soweto Derby