PLAYER RATINGS | Borussia Dortmund 3-1 Mainz
One group combating for the Champions League, the opposite languishing in mid-table mediocrity. That’s proper, Champions League chasing Mainz travelled to Borussia Dortmund.
Mainz had been very a lot in management for many of the first half, however they struggled to interrupt down Dortmund, whereas on the different finish, Dortmund had been reasonably ineffective. Nonetheless, what Dortmund have been missing for many of this season has been luck, in addition to high quality, and this time they’d luck on their facet when a Julian Brandt by ball takes a fortunate bounce which permits Maximilian Beier to play the ball to Karim Adeyemi, who squared it again to Beier to make it 1-0. Then rapidly afterwards, a Nico Schloterbeck nook (this tells you all the things you should find out about Dortmund’s regular set-piece takers) is met by Emre Can to make it 2-0, and Dortmund had been properly of their stride.
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Within the second half, Mainz had been once more totally in management as they tried to get themselves again into the sport. The 05ers had a number of possibilities, however Dortmund defended them properly, blocking a number of efforts. Then, Dortmund scored a 3rd when one other Schlotterbeck nook was met by the top of Beier to make it 3-0. Mainz continued to push and would get a aim again from Paul Nebel.
A bizarre efficiency, Dortmund weren’t precisely the higher facet however had been far more practical in entrance of aim in comparison with the guests. What additionally helped was die Schwarzgelben had been sound defensively and managed to close down any of the Mainz assaults. The important thing factor for Dortmund going ahead is to keep up this consistency, too many occasions have they left individuals guessing which Dortmund goes to show up. Niko Kovac has to discover a approach to not solely get the perfect out of them within the league to maximise the prospect of qualifying for Europe, but in addition within the Champions League, as they may have a tricky check towards Barcelona on the horizon.
With which Dortmund turns up subsequent week, your guess is pretty much as good as mine.
Mainz must now look over their shoulder, RB Leipzig’s loss yesterday helped them, however different groups similar to Borussia Mönchengladbach at the moment are respiratory down their neck. Fortunately, they’ve a beneficial set of video games forward of them, to allow them to proceed their quest for potential Champions League soccer. What the sport did present was how enjoyable Mainz are with their flicks and simply total type of play, particularly in comparison with a Dortmund facet who’re missing on this division.
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(I do know what you’re going to say, ‘However Dortmund received!’, they did, however they’re nonetheless a wierd facet to observe.)
Borussia Dortmund XI:
Gregor Kobel (5), Waldemar Anton (5), Emre Can (6), Nico Schlotterbeck (8), Yan Couto (5), Salih Özcan (6), Pascal Groß (6) Julian Ryerson (6), Julian Brandt (6), Karim Adeyemi (6), Maximilian Beier (7)
Others: Daniel Svensson (5), Niklas Süle (5), Carney Chukwuemeka (5), Ramy Bensebaini (-), Jamie Gittens)(-)
Mainz XI:
Robin Zentner (5), Danny Da Costa (5), Moritz Jena (5), Andreas Hanche-Olsen (5), Silvan Widmer (5), Nadiem Amiri (5), Kaishu Sano (6), Anthony Caci (5), Jae-Sung Lee (6), Paul Nebel (6), Jonathan Burkardt (5)
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Others: Nelson Weiper (5), Hyun-Seok Hong (5), Nicolai Versatching (5), Arminido Sieb (-), Arnaud Nordin (-)
GGFN Man of the Match: Nico Schlotterbeck (8)
Dortmund have one way or the other got here to the conclusion that Schlotterbeck can be higher at taking the corners than being a presence within the field. Seems, it labored. The German offered two assists from corners this afternoon. Nonetheless, it was not simply on this finish the place he was efficient.
Schlotterbeck was a rock on the again (by way of ), the 25-year-old received 83% of his aerial duels, made 5 clearances and 9 recoveries. In a sport the place Mainz dominated the ball. Schlotterbeck was key in limiting their possibilities in troubling Gregor Kobel.
GGFN |