Marcel Sabitzer's brace gives 10-man Borussia Dortmund a vital 2-1 win over Gladbach

Marcel Sabitzer scored a match-winning brace as Borussia Dortmund dispatched Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-1 to return to winning ways.

Borussia Dortmund kept pace with Bundesliga top four rivals RB Leipzig by claiming a hard-fought 2-1 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach. Marcel Sabitizer came up with the goals for the Black and Yellows, who had Karim Adeyemi sent off in the second-half. But BVB still managed to get the three vital points to ensure that they remain in contention for Champions League qualification.

It was an absorbing Battle of the Borussias, even if the game had a cagey feel to it right from the start. Edin Terzic made wholesale changes to his starting XI, with one eye on Tuesday's crunch second leg against Atletico Madrid. In came Sebastien Haller, fresh off his goal in the first leg in Madrid. Jamie Bynoe-Gittens was also given the chance to play from the start. While Mats Hummels, Emre Can and Niclas Füllkrug were among those who dropped to the bench.

Chances came at a premium in the first-half, but Nico Schlotterbeck found a way to unlock the Gladbach defence, as he picked out Marcel Sabitzer's run with a fine long ball. And the Austrian international blasted the ball home for the opening goal.

Schlotterbeck and Sabitzer combined for Borussia Dortmund's second goal as well, with the latter coolly slotting home from the penalty spot after the former was brought down inside the box.

Borussia Dortmund's two goal lead lasted just eight minutes as Maximilian Wöber pulled a goal back for Gladbach, heading home from a corner after Julian Brandt lost sight of him.

Sabitzer thought he had his hat-trick three minutes after the restart, when Borussia Dortmund were awarded a penalty due to a foul on Karim Adeyemi. But the penalty was chalked off following a VAR check, which took place after the midfielder had already converted from the spot.

The farcical situation turned into frustration for Borussia Dortmund six minutes later, as Adeyemi was sent off after picking up a second yellow card. Gladbach huffed and puffed in search of an equaliser for the rest of the game, with Terzic deciding to park the bus. And the defensive approach paid dividends at full-time, as BVB secured the three points with minimal fuss.

The win will certainly come as a boost for Borussia Dortmund, even if the overall performance of the team once again left a lot to be desired. Three massive games now await BVB, starting with Tuesday's Champions League quarterfinal second leg against Atletico Madrid.