Borussia Dortmund’s Maximilian Beier scored twice towards Mainz on Sunday (UWE KRAFT)
Maximilian Beier scored twice as Borussia Dortmund received 3-1 at residence to Mainz within the Bundesliga on Sunday, holding their slim hopes of European qualification alive.
Champions League finalists final season, Dortmund had misplaced 4 of their previous six video games to sink to twelfth earlier than the match.
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Dortmund had been with out injured striker Serhou Guirassy however Beier stuffed the void as he gave the hosts the lead after 32 minutes, ending off a aim he initiated.
The 22-year-old Germany ahead gathered the ball in midfield, shed a defender and located Julian Brandt who whipped in a cross and Beier threaded the ball to Karim Adeyemi, who returned the favour, giving him a easy tap-in.
Emre Can doubled Dortmund’s lead simply 4 minutes later, heading in a Nico Schlotterbeck nook.
Schlotterbeck equipped Dortmund’s third as properly within the 72nd minute, floating in an excellent ball which allowed Beier to move residence, earlier than Mainz pulled one again by way of Paul Nebel.
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Dortmund supervisor Niko Kovac mentioned there was “nothing extra stunning than profitable in soccer”, however added his aspect’s work was solely simply getting began.
“We received at present however with seven video games left, we have got loads extra to do,” Kovac advised DAZN.
The win was Dortmund’s first victory over Mainz in 4 makes an attempt, together with the notorious 2-2 draw towards the identical opponents on the ultimate day of the 2022-23 season which value them the title.
Dortmund now sit tenth, 4 factors behind the European locations and 7 factors again from Mainz, who’re in fourth.
Regardless of the loss, Mainz are two factors away from fifth-placed Borussia Moenchengladbach and are in with a great opportunity of a first-ever Champions League look.
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Union Berlin received 2-1 at Freiburg, denting their opponents’ Champions League hopes whereas taking a significant step in the direction of sustaining their very own standing as a top-flight workforce subsequent season.
Freiburg took the lead with 29 minutes performed when Lucas Hoeler hammered in a Vincenzo Grifo cross.
The guests hit again only one minute later, captain Rani Khedira firing in following an Andrej Ilic help.
Ilic then obtained on the scoresheet three minutes into the second half, heading a Tim Skarke cross into the highest nook.
The loss, simply Freiburg’s third residence defeat of the season, leaves them in seventh, three factors off the highest 4. Freiburg have additionally by no means performed within the Champions League.
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The win took Union, who wanted a final-day victory final season at residence towards Freiburg to keep away from dropping into the second division, to 30 factors, eight away from the relegation playoff spot.
Union’s latest type appears to have lifted the membership out of the relegation mire.
Prior to now three weeks, Union have crushed top-four hopefuls Eintracht Frankfurt and Freiburg, whereas holding league leaders Bayern Munich to a draw at residence.
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