Dortmund slip up again with draw at bottom club Nuremberg

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - 1. FC Nurnberg v Borussia Dortmund - Max-Morlock-Stadion, Nuremberg, Germany - February 18, 2019 Borussia Dortmund's Axel Witsel in action with 1. FC Nurnberg's Yuya Kubo REUTERS/Andreas Gebert DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video

(This February 18 story corrects scoreline in intro)

BERLIN (Reuters) - Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund managed only a 0-0 draw at bottom club Nuremberg on Monday to see their gap at the top cut to three points after their third straight draw in the Bundesliga.

Dortmund are in the midst of a form crisis, having failed to win any of their last five games in all competitions and having been eliminated from the German Cup while also losing 3-0 at Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League round of 16 first leg last week.

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - 1. FC Nurnberg v Borussia Dortmund - Max-Morlock-Stadion, Nuremberg, Germany - February 18, 2019 Borussia Dortmund's Jadon Sancho in action with 1. FC Nurnberg's Lukas Muhl and Ondrej Petrak REUTERS/Andreas Gebert DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video

As expected the Ruhr valley club had the upper hand throughout but could not score, with Nuremberg keeper Christian Mathenia in fine form and repeatedly denying Mario Goetze as the visitors had 18 shots on goal.

The keeper also tipped a Paco Alcacer's low shot wide in the 86th and the Dortmund forward was ruled off side a little later after putting the ball in the net.

Dortmund are on 51 points. Champions Bayern Munich are in second place on 48 after their 3-2 comeback win at Augsburg on Friday. Borussia Moenchengladbach are in third a further five points behind.

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - 1. FC Nurnberg v Borussia Dortmund - Max-Morlock-Stadion, Nuremberg, Germany - February 18, 2019 Borussia Dortmund's Jadon Sancho in action with 1. FC Nurnberg's Lukas Muhl and Ondrej Petrak REUTERS/Andreas Gebert DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video

The hosts, who replaced coach Michael Koellner last week after seven defeats in their previous eight games replacing him with interim coach Boris Schommers, earned a point to move within two points of the relegation playoff spot.

(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Tom Brown)

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - 1. FC Nurnberg v Borussia Dortmund - Max-Morlock-Stadion, Nuremberg, Germany - February 18, 2019 Borussia Dortmund's Jacob Bruun Larsen scores a disallowed goal due to offside after this pass from Paco Alcacer REUTERS/Andreas Gebert DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - 1. FC Nurnberg v Borussia Dortmund - Max-Morlock-Stadion, Nuremberg, Germany - February 18, 2019 1. FC Nurnberg's Matheus Pereira in action with Borussia Dortmund's Abdou Diallo and Thomas Delaney REUTERS/Andreas Gebert DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - 1. FC Nurnberg v Borussia Dortmund - Max-Morlock-Stadion, Nuremberg, Germany - February 18, 2019 Borussia Dortmund's Thomas Delaney and Axel Witsel react REUTERS/Andreas Gebert DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - 1. FC Nurnberg v Borussia Dortmund - Max-Morlock-Stadion, Nuremberg, Germany - February 18, 2019 Borussia Dortmund's Mario Goetze in action with 1. FC Nurnberg's Lukas Muhl and Ewerton Almeida REUTERS/Andreas Gebert DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video