Can scores and Beier bags brace as BVB beat Mainz 3-1 | OneFootball

Boris Rupert reporting81,365 spectators in the sold-out SIGNAL IDUNA PARK witnessed an initially error-strewn performance from BVB. But in the closing stages of the first half, a sublimely taken goal from Maximilian Beier made it 1-0 (39) before Emre Can extended the advantage to 2-0 with a superb header (42). Beier increased the lead to 3-0 with 20 minutes remaining, but Paul Nebel pulled Mainz back within two goals shortly afterwards (76).

Personnel matters:  Two weeks after the game in Leipzig, which ended in a 2-0 defeat despite plenty of chances, Niko Kovac was without Serhou Guirassy (muscular problems), Marcel Sabitzer (knee injury) and Felix Nmecha (lacking match fitness). Daniel Svensson was back in the squad, as was U23 forward Rodney Elongo-Yombo. Yan Couto and Salih Özcan came into the starting XI to replace Sabitzer and Guirassy.

Tactics:  Mainz sat deep and secure in a 3-4-2-1 formation, which turned into a 5-4-1 without the ball. Dortmund also started with a back three, but with two up front (Beier and Adeyemi) and Brandt in the hole behind them (3-4-1-2).

The match & analysis:BVB looked to get forward from the start against a deep-lying Mainz defence. Schlotterbeck dispossessed Nebel and carried the ball half the length of the pitch before deciding to try his luck on goal, but his effort soared well over the target (5). Four minutes later, Anton pinged the ball onto Beier's head, but his effort drifted wide left of the goal.

Despite these early glimpses, Borussia were struggling to get in behind or play the game at their tempo - and when they did they too often made the wrong decisions, such as after Özcan won the ball in his own half following a deflected Mainz corner: in the ensuing four-on-two counter-attack, Couto passed right to Beier, who was crowded out by the two Mainz defenders. Slipping it left to Adeyemi might have been the better option. Nevertheless, this sequence still resulted in a goal-scoring opportunity: Schlotterbeck had followed up the counter-attack, and was rewarded for his persistence when the ball fell to him. He duly drilled a shot on goal from distance, forcing Zenter into a strong save (24).

Overall, however, the visitors remained composed up to that point and, from the 30th minute onwards, enjoyed lengthy spells of possession in Dortmund's half. The Black & Yellows, in contrast to their slick opponents, were struggling to retain possession due to sloppy passing. But soon that all changed: Beier won the ball in the centre circle and played it on to Özcan. He slipped it to Brandt outside the box in a half-right space, who sent a sharp low ball into the area. The onrushing Beier got a slight touch to send it to Adeyemi on the left, who played it straight back to Beier for a simple first-time finish (39). Three minutes later, a Schlotterbeck corner (!) landed on the head of his defensive partner Can, whose towering effort sailed over the entire Mainz defence and into the far corner of the net. Jenz's attempt to clear the ball on the line was in vain.

Mainz came out for the second half full of energy and had a triple chance in the 59th minute, with Kobel making back-to-back saves to deny Widmer and Nebel before Can blocked Burkardt's shot. However, the offside flag then went up. Shortly before, Beier had narrowly missed the mark after a cross from Couto. Then came the 71st minute: Schlotterbeck won the ball with an outstanding tackle, Brandt played a strong through ball to Adeyemi, who skipped past Jenz but was denied by Zentner, with the ball going out for a corner. Schlotterbeck again sent the ball in sharply and Beier's header was too powerful for Zentner, who had no time to react as the ball rippled the net by the time he got his hands up. The Black & Yellows were 3-0 up.

Just four minutes later, however, Nebel reduced the deficit for the visitors. BVB, under pressure from Mainz, failed to clear their lines on several occasions. Amiri then came to life, playing a one-two with a teammate and skipping into the five-metre area. A BVB defender blocked his path, but the ball bounced back to Nebel, who fired home to make it 3-1. Kovac now moved Anton into defensive midfield and brought on Süle to occupy his position in defence. The post was all that prevented Gross from making it 4-1 (81), while Jenz did well to get in the way of Adeyemi in the 89th minute.

Outlook :Borussia Dortmund are next in action on Saturday, when they travel to Sportclub Freiburg (15:30 CEST). It is the first of three consecutive away matches (followed by trips to Barcelona and Munich).

Teams & goals

Bundesliga, Matchday 27 Sunday, 30 March 2025, 17:30 CET BORUSSIA DORTMUND 3–1 (2-0) 1. FSV MAINZ 05

Bor. Dortmund: Kobel – Anton (90. Bensebaini), Can, Schlotterbeck – Couto (62, Svensson), Özcan (79, Chukwuemeka), Gross, Ryerson – Brandt (79, Süle) – Adeyemi (90, Gittens), Beier1. FSV Mainz 05: Zentner – da Costa, Jenz, Hanche-Olsen – Widmer (65, Veratschnig), Sano, Amiri, Caci (88, Nordin) – Nebel (87, Sieb), Lee (65, Hong) – Burkardt (71, Weiper)Substitutes: Meyer, Reyna, Duranville, Elongo-Yombo – Batz, Riess, Leitsch, MaloneyGoals: 1-0 Beier (39, Adeyemi), 2-0 Can (42, Schlotterbeck), 3-0 Beier (72, Schlotterbeck), 3-1 Nebel (76, Amiri)Corners: 6-4 (3-1 at half-time), chance ratio: 7-2 (3-0)Referee: Schlager (Hügelsheim), bookings: Couto (fifth of the season, suspended), Schlotterbeck (fifth of the season, suspended)Attendance: 81,365 (sold-out), weather: changeable and windy, 11 degrees