After a patchy run of form before the international break, Dortmund’s clash against Freiburg was a game they couldn’t afford to lose.
It started out in the best possible way, with Maximilian Beier the one to tuck home a sweeping team move from inside the penalty area inside just seven minutes.
It was a half bookended by goals for the home side, with Felix Nmecha the man at the centre of things for the second, finding the back of the net from the best part of 25 yards out to give the visitors a mountain to climb after the break.
With the game firmly under control, Dortmund were happy to knock the ball about at the back and avoid turning over possession in any risky areas after the restart.
Their job was made considerably easier when Patrick Osterhage saw red for a second bookable offence midway through the half, and Julian Brandt added insult to injury by curling home the resulting free-kick.
There was no doubting the destination of the three points after the third goal went in, but a late strike from Jamie Gittens made absolutely sure. The tricky winger picked the ball up inside the 12-yard box before whipping a right-footed strike into the far corner, rounding off a dominant victory that keeps Dortmund on the tail of the top four.
Freiburg meanwhile are now winless in four Bundesliga matches and had Junior Adamu sent off deep into stoppage time to compound a miserable afternoon.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Julian Brandt (Borussia Dortmund)