Dortmund trimmed the gap at the top to seven points behind run-away leaders Bayern Munich as Aubameyang took his tally to 13 goals in 10 league games to become the joint top-scorer alongside Bayern’s Robert Lewandowski.

This was an emphatic victory for Dortmund, who tore the Augsburg defence to pieces as Japan midfielder Shinji Kagawa set up three of the goals.

Aubameyang claimed the third hat-trick in his two years at Dortmund.

“I have no secret, but I bet with my brother yesterday that I would score three goals, no joke, I have already had a few messages about it,” revealed Aubameyang when asked what is the secret of his goal-scoring success.

“The hat-trick is for my little son. I try to enjoy myself on the field. Sometimes you have good times when you can try everything and it comes off.”

Aubameyang opened his account after 18 minutes by finishing off a superb move started by right-back Matthias Ginter on the flank, as a series of quick passes saw Ilkay Gundogan provide the striker with a simple tap in.

Marco Reus doubled the lead on 21 minutes when he fired home a superbly worked cross from Kagawa and the fleet-footed winger claimed his second with his Japanese teammate again providing the final pass.

It was 3-0 at the break, but Augsburg striker Raul Bobadilla pulled a goal back when he out-jumped Mats Hummels from a free-kick to head home on 49 minutes.

It proved to be no more than a consolation as Aubameyang grabbed his second on 85 minutes, then took advantage of another good Kagawa pass to delay his shot before beating goalkeeper Roman Burki on 91 minutes.

The National