Schlotti corners recipe for Dortmund in huge win over Mainz | OneFootball

With results elsewhere going their way this weekend, Dortmund started the game with a big chance to close the gap with teams in European contention. Meanwhile, Mainz set their goal on a return to third place after Frankfurt’s win over Stuttgart.

Both coaches made two forced changes from their respective lineups before the international break. Niko Kovac replaced injured Serhou Guirassy and Marcel Sabitzer with Salih Özcan and Yan Couto, with a host of players forced to play out of position.

As for Mainz, Andreas Hanche-Olsen and Silvan Widmer enter in place of the suspended duo Dominik Kohr and Phillipp Mwene. Jonathan Burkardt, who didn’t play Germany’s home leg against Italy, starts up front.

After a cagey opening five minutes, both teams carved out chances in an end-to-end exchange. In search of a club record four successive away wins, Mainz approached the match with the confidence that echoed the 10-point difference between the clubs.

However, the hosts also had their share of good moments in the first-half, including when Nico Schlotterbeck fired one from long range. And, they took the lead five minutes before the end of an exhilarating half. Maximilian Beier gets to the end of Karim Adeyemi’s unselfish play for his sixth goal of the season.

Dortmund’s first goal came against the run of play, but they doubled their lead three minutes later. With Robin Zentner caught between two ideas, captain Emre Can found the back of the net from Schlotterbeck’s corner-kick delivery (you read that right).

Despite the two-goal deficit, Bo Henriksen decided against a half-time change to his starting XI. However, they started the half brightly with a strong intent to get back into the game. But, Gregor Kobel was untested for the large part in Dortmund’s goal. His first big save came in the hour mark when Burkardt presented with a one-on-one chance.

Somehow, Henriksen waited until the 65th minute to make his first substitutions of the game. Meanwhile, Schlotterbeck caused plenty of trouble on the other end with his new forte. And that was exactly how BVB sealed the three points.

Beier gets his second of the game, thanks to a second corner-kick assist by the all-rounder defender. Mainz immediately gets on the scoresheet with a well-taken strike by Paul Nebel in a crowded box.

Five minutes from time, Pascal Groß thought Dortmund regained a three-goal cushion, but his effort hit the inside of the near post. Mainz were unable to build on their goal as Dortmund enjoyed a comfortable finish to the game.

The result ended Mainz’s impressive six-game unbeaten streak, but they will still spend the week in a Champions League spot. However, Dortmund are now only seven points behind them as they climbed to tenth in the standings.