Skip to content

Dortmund's Aubameyang eyes Europa League spot

Ralph Orlowski / REUTERS

Berlin - Gabon winger Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang says Borussia Dortmund must target a European place for next season after their 3-2 Bundesliga win at ten-man Hanover 96 on Saturday.

Dortmund picked up their first victory in four games after goalless draws with Cologne and Hamburg before Wednesday's 3-0 defeat at home to Juventus saw them bow out of the Champions League with a 5-1 aggregate defeat in the last 16.

Aubameyang, Borussia's top scorer this season, netted twice to leave him with 12 goals in 25 league games and Germany winger Marco Reus created two, but Dortmund again showed defensive short-comings.

The three points left Dortmund tenth in the league, just three points from a top six place, which carries a Europa League berth for next season, and 12 away from the top three which would mean an automatic Champions League place for the fifth season in succession.

"We're only a few points from sixth place now," Aubameyang told Sky Sports.

"We should be looking in the direction of a Europa League place now and we should stay optimistic."

Dortmund, the 2013 Champions League finalists, made life hard for themselves in Hanover as Aubameyang's opening goal was cancelled out by Lars Stindl's weak shot to equalise for the hosts.

The home side were reduced to ten men when ex-Dortmund midfielder Leonardo Bittencourt was sent off for a second yellow card on 55 minutes.

Aubameyang added his second and Japan midfielder Shinji Kagawa scored his first Bundesliga goal since September to make it 3-1.

But Borussia endured a nervous final ten minutes after Stindl curled in his second of the game to make it 3-2 on 82 minutes.

"We started well, but completely gave away the equaliser," said Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp, whose side were bottom of the table at the start of February.

"We did really well after the second yellow card and anyone who looks at the table sees how important the win was."

After the international break, Dortmund face a tough few weeks as they host runaway Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich on April 4 then face third-placed Borussia Moenchengladbach away on April 11 either side of a German Cup quarter-final at home to Hoffenheim.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox