Defending champions Dortmund move to top of German table

Feb 3, 2012, 21:46 GMT

Nuremberg, Germany - Defending champions Borussia Dortmund moved to the top of the Bundesliga standings with a 2-0 victory Friday at struggling Nuremberg.

Goals by Sebastian Kehl and substitute Lucas Barios gave Dortmund the win, which took them three points clear of Bayern Munich and Schalke 04, who are both playing Saturday.

Dortmund struggled to find a way through the Nuremberg defence in the first half, and the teams changed sides goalless.

It took the visiting side just three minutes after the break to take the lead as Kehl was fed by Lukasz Piszczek, and the captain had no problems in pushing the ball over the line from close range.

Eight minutes from the end, Paraguayan international Barios set up his own goal as he played the ball to Kevin Grosskreutz, whose shot was saved by Nuremberg goalkeeper Raphael Schaefer. Barios was on hand to score from the rebound.

Nuremberg are in trouble in 14th place and could fall into the relegation zone if Kaiserslautern and Hertha Berlin win this weekend.

Bayern, who like Schalke are on 40 points, play Saturday at SV Hamburg, while Schalke face Mainz 05.