Shinji Kagawa led Borussia Dortmund’s fight back to floor Cologne 6-1 yesterday and restore the defending champions five-point gap at the top of the German league with seven games left.

After second-placed Bayern Munich’s 2-1 home win over Hanover on Saturday had trimmed Borussia’s lead to just two points, Dortmund replied in style to score five second-half goals without reply at Cologne.

Dortmund are on course for the domestic double and play Bayern in the German Cup final on May 12 in Berlin.

Kagawa produced a dazzling second-half performance in Cologne with two goals to leave him with 11 for the season. He also set up Poland striker Robert Lewandowski for the third, then midfielder Ilkay Gundagon for the fourth.

Victory leaves Dortmund on 62 points with Bayern on 57, while Cologne drop to 14th in the league and are just one point from the relegation places.

Earlier, striker Cacau hit a late winner to seal Stuttgart’s 1-0 victory at home to Nuremberg and leave his side just a point from a European berth.

Bundesliga
Stuttgart vs Nuremberg 1-0; Cologne vs Borussia Dortmund 1-6.

Leading standings: Borussia Dort-mund 62; Bayern Munich 57; Schalke 53; Borussia Moenchengladbach 51; Bayer Leverkusen, Werder Bremen 40; Stuttgart 39.

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