BERLIN — Third-placed Borussia Dortmund were held 1-1 at Hertha Berlin in the Bundesliga Friday for their second draw in a row without leading striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The Gabon international, with 13 league goals this season, was suspended for last week’s 0-0 draw with VfL Wolfsburg after failing to show up for a team meeting the day before.
Dortmund coach Peter Stoeger Thursday indicated the 28-year-old would be in the squad but the forward was surprisingly left out with club officials saying he was not focused enough.
Aubameyang, last season’s Bundesliga top scorer, has been linked with a move to Arsenal in the January transfer window.
His absence was again clearly evident as Dortmund had few chances in a subdued first half before Davie Selke put Hertha ahead seconds after the restart.
Dortmund leveled by taking advantage of a defensive error when Shinji Kagawa headed in at the far post in the 71st.
The visitors could have snatched a late winner but Sancho curled his shot wide and Alexander Isak fired against the bar.
Dortmund has 30 points and trail Bundesliga leader Bayern Munich who have 44 before they host Werder Bremen Sunday.
Getafe salvages a draw
Angel Rodriguez came off the bench to help Getafe salvage a 2-2 draw after twice trailing Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish league Friday.
Rodriguez entered the match shortly after his team missed a penalty kick early in the second half, scoring the equalizer with a shot from close range in the 74th minute.
The result extended Getafe’s unbeaten streak at home to seven matches in all competitions.
Inaki Williams put the visitors ahead in the 13th minute at Coliseum Alfonso Perez. Jorge Molina evened the match by converting a penalty kick in the 21st and Raul Garcia put Athletic ahead again three minutes into the second half.
Molina had a penalty stopped by Athletic goalkeeper Iago Herrerin in the 51st.
Getafe moved to seventh in the standings with 27 points from 20 matches.
Athletic, unbeaten in eight matches in all competitions, is in 10th place with 26 points.
Marseille moves to 2nd
Dimitri Payet and Florian Thauvin netted second-half goals as Marseille defeated Caen 2-0 Friday to climb above Lyon and into second place in France’s Ligue 1.
Former West Ham winger Payet broke the deadlock on 55 minutes from the penalty spot after Bouna Sarr was brought down in the area by Vincent Bessat.
Thauvin sealed a fourth straight league win for Marseille with his team-leading 10th goal of the season on 74 minutes, curling a terrific 20-yard strike into the top corner.
Rudi Garcia’s team moved two points clear of Lyon. — Agencies
