Berlin, 21 October 2023 (dpa/MIA) - Julian Brandt scored in his 300th Bundesliga match to give Borussia Dortmund a 1-0 win against Werder Bremen and the temporary league lead on Friday evening.

Dortmund had very good chances in the first half, but were largely denied by the Bremen defence and a number of saves from deputy Bremen goalkeeper Michael Zetterer.

Donyell Malen and Marco Reus, meanwhile, wasted very good chances to find the net.

But the breakthrough finally came in the 67th, when Brandt made a good run into the box to collect Emre Can's pass and dunk it over Zetterer.

"I have to say that today everything worked out well. I'm very happy - and tired," Brandt told broadcasters DAZN.

Brandt and team-mates Mats Hummels, Niclas Füllkrug and Niklas Süle were part of the Germany's national team trip to the United States, which included friendly matches against the hosts last Saturday and against Mexico on Tuesday.

Dortmund chartered a private jet to bring back their players amid over their preparations for the match against Bremen.

Brandt said he "coped quite well" with the first night after returning from the US but that he would "be happy when I lay down in bed."

Dortmund will top the table at least until Saturday afternoon, when Bayer Leverkusen visit VfL Wolfsburg, Bayern Munich travel to Mainz and VfB Stuttgart have an away game at Union Berlin.

Friday's game marked the first time Füllkrug faced his former club since moving to Dortmund in summer.

"A tough game. It would have been good to have one (goal) in the first half," he said.

Photo: EPA