Reus returns as Dortmund claims 500th Bundesliga win at home

BERLIN (AP) - Marco Reus made his first appearance of the season and Michy Batshuayi scored again as Borussia Dortmund defeated Hamburger SV 2-0 on Saturday for its 500th Bundesliga win at home.

Dortmund moved to third as it stretched its unbeaten run to seven games under Peter Stoeger, who gave defender Manuel Akanji his first start and Reus the captain's armband 259 days after the Germany forward sustained a cruciate ligament injury in the German Cup final last May.

"We didn't show our best game. But in our situation it's simply important to earn the points regularly," Reus said of a lackluster first half from the home side against a well-organized Hamburg.

The second half started as the first ended, but Christian Pulisic fired a ball across goal and Batshuayi slid in to score his third in two games since moving on loan from Chelsea. As promised, the Belgian striker celebrated with a somersault.

Dortmund lived dangerously with Hamburg threatening an equalizer, but substitute Mario Goetze sealed the win in injury time after Andre Schuerrle played him in to lift the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper. Batshuayi instigated the move with a good pass for Schuerrle.

"We're happy we won," Stoeger said. "It gives us a bit of peace and quiet."

Hamburg remains second to last, three points below Mainz, which lost at Hoffenheim 4-2.

LEVERKUSEN LOSES

Bayer Leverkusen dropped to fifth after slumping at home to Hertha Berlin 2-0.

Valentino Lazaro fired Hertha ahead before the break on a counterattack, when Vladimir Darida played the ball through.

It was the Austrian midfielder's first Bundesliga goal, and Hertha's first goal away from home this year.

Salomon Kalou took advantage of a mistake from Jonathan Tah to make it 2-0 early in the second half, and Hertha held on to consolidate its midtable place.

"Together with dear God we defended well and deserved to win in the end," Hertha coach Pal Dardai said.

FRANKFURT FLYING

Eintracht Frankfurt defeated bottom club Cologne 4-2 at home to move to fourth, the last place for a Champions League playoff.

Simon Terodde equalized for Cologne with a penalty wiping out Ante Rebic's early score for Frankfurt, but quick-fire goals from Marco Russ, Simon Falette and then Marius Wolf ended the visitors' hopes of any points.

Terodde's second goal did little for Cologne, seven points below Mainz in the relegation playoff place.

Hannover ended Freiburg's nine-game unbeaten run with a 2-1 win at home to consolidate its midtable spot, level on points with Hoffenheim and Augsburg.

Runaway leader Bayern Munich was hosting Schalke later.