B. Cortus
90'
+ 1
DORTMUND SCORE FOUR TO SECURE FOURTH STRAIGHT WIN
Four different scores were on target for BVB to secure their fourth win in a row in all competitions. Reus was on target for the first time away from home, while Sancho scored for the sixth game in a row for Dortmund in what was a perfect day at the office for Lucien Favre and his side. It could have been more but chances weren't always taken. Mainz were not at the races and were only able to register nine attempts on goal, half of the total from Dortmund.
Full-time
86'
Substitution
85'
Substitution
84'
SCHULZ FIRES HOME!
He's being going for goal all day and he finally finds the net. It's Sancho's pass from the edge of the box that finds him and the wing-back has his first goal for Borussia Dortmund.
81'
MATETA RETURNS!
The Frenchman is back and makes his first Bundesliga appearance of the season. The home crowd make the most noise they've been able to produce all day with the return of their top scorer last season.
81'
Substitution
80'
Substitution
77'
SANCHO SO CLOSE AGAIN!
This time Hakimi is powering forward down the right flank and he spots Sancho unmarked at the back post. The pass goes just behind the winger though and he can't swing his foot back in time to control it with his second and Dortmund's fourth goal waiting.
76'
Substitution
76'
SANCHO HITS THE POST
The Englishman is afforded far too much time and space and goes for goal from 20 yards. His shot is deflected off St. Juste and bounces into the ground on it's way to goal, sending it over the reach of Zentner but only onto the far post.
73'
Substitution
71'
SANCHO HAS A GO...
The Englishman has already scored in his six game in a row in all competitions but it's not enough for him. He curls a shot from the left corner of the box, but Zentner is equal to it this time with a solid save.
69'
HAZARD WITH A THUNDERBOLT!
Another Dortmund counter and another Dortmund goal. Reus is found by Schulz in the middle of the pitch and spots Hazard in space on the right flank. He takes aim from 25 yards with an absolute cracker which even the huge frame of Zentner can't stop on its way to the top corner. His fourth goal of the season now, and Dortmund are in full control.
66'
SANCHO MAKES IT TWO!
It might be Sancho's goal, but this is all Dan-Axel Zagadou. He picks up the ball just outside his own area after a Mainz corner and brings it all the way to the edge of the Mainz box before fainting the opposition defence in front of him with a lovely cut-back pass to Sancho. The Englishman's shot hits the right hand of Zentner, but he can't stop it.
66'
LOOKING FOR A SPARK
This second half has gone along quietly so far, with both sides enjoying time on the ball but both defence's winning the day so far not allowing the other a chance at goal.
60'
ZENTNER DENIES REUS
The Dortmund captain races towards a loose ball rolling towards the Mainz box, but luckily for the home side Zentner was awake to the danger and was out quickly to deny him.
56'
SZALAI SHOT BLOCKED
A tidy pass across the box from Öztunali finds Szalai in the space on the left side of the penalty area. He controls and shoots at goal but Akanji is clearly in front of his to block the effort on goal. Mainz pressing high and hard so far in this second half, but Dortmund managing it well.
49'
CHANGE OF BOOTS FOR SANCHO
The English teenager had blue boots on in the first half but has come out with some fresh white boots on for this second half. Will be able to make use of them as Dortmund go in search of more goals?
48'
BRANDT WITH ANOTHER HEADER...
The midfielder is once again well placed in the box to meet a free-kick and flicks the ball towards goal, but Zentner is able to stop it.
46'
SECOND HALF BEGINS
No changes at the break for either side, but Raphael Guerreiro and Paco Alcacer could be seen warming up on the pitch during the half-time period. Let's see if they are introduced here as the rain continues to come down...
Kick-off!
Half-time
45'
+ 1
REUS RUNNING THIS SHOW
Dortmund have had 11 attempts on goal in this first half to Mainz's one, and four of those have come from the BVB captain - including the all-important goal. Mainz are sure to come out fighting in this second half but as always, you can expect Dortmund to fight the net again in this second half, especially considering how they have played so far.
41'
LANDMARK FOR REUS
His strike in the 32nd minute was his 125th in the Bundesliga. A huge milestone for the former Gladbach forward.
36'
BRANDT WITH A HEADER...
Sancho's corner to the near post is flicked on by Brandt, but drifts just wide of the far post with Zentner only able to watch as it goes by.
35'
DORTMUND LET A COUNTER SLIP AWAY
A great opening for the away side with Brandt powering the ball forward. Reus is ahead of him on the right and Sancho is alone on the left flank with just one defender back. Brandt's ball is poor, though, and the Mainz defence are able to clear.
32'
WHAT A STRIKE!
A cross comes in from Hazard and is cleared only as far as Reus on the edge of the box. He steps up and laces it into the back of the net with a thunderous strike, and no chance for Zentner. His first goal away from home in the Bundesliga this season.
26'
REUS WITH THE CHANCE OF THE GAME
That was the biggest chance of the game so far for Dortmund. A long ball over the top from Hummels is once again not dealt with and Schulz beats St. Juste to it before a loose touch sends the ball towards Reus. He's alone in front of Zentner, but the Mainz No.1 stays big to save his effort.
19'
REUS FIRES OVER
A good chance for the Dortmund captain as Brandt's chipped ball to the back post is met by Schulz, who clips it back into the box with a first-time volley. Reus is on the other end of it and controls before shooting on the turn with his left, but can't keep it on target.
15'
PENALTY APPEAL TURNED DOWN
Reus looked for a cut-back into the box from the far left side of the box and St. Juste's sliding block did it's job, but Dortmund felt that the ball had hit the defender's hand in doing so. Referee Benjamin Cortus is told there's nothing it in.
14'
SCHULZ AT IT AGAIN
All good things for Dortmund are coming down the left wing as Hazard and Schulz combine this time, but the shot comes to nothing from Schulz.
13'
SituationNo penalty
ReviewHandball?
DecisionNo penalty
12'
SCHULZ GOES CLOSE AGAIN!
A fantastic long ball from Hummels with the outside of his foot over the Mainz defence is latched onto by Reus. He cuts it back into the box for Schulz, but his shot is well blocked by St. Juste.
10'
CHANCES FOR BVB
Hazard has the ball in the Mainz box and moves onto his left foot to shoot, only for his effort to be blocked. Hakimi picks up the loose ball and works space for a cross from the same right wing, but the ball drifts to the back post and again runs loose with Schulz the one closest to it this time. The former Hoffenheim wing-back slices his shot wide of the mark.
8'
POTENTIAL HANDBALL?
A cross comes into the box from the left and is flicked on by Quaison before bouncing off Zagadou and into the hands of Bürki. The Mainz players are asking for a penalty, but it doesn't even got to a VAR review.
6'
REUS AT THE DOUBLE
First opening for Dortmund with Sancho played in behind down the right wing. He beats one man and looks up to find Reus on the edge of the box in space and finds him. Reus' first shot is blocked but rolls back to him and he goes at goal again, only to see Zentner parry the ball away with his feet.
4'
SOLID START FROM MAINZ
No time given to Dortmund's attackers on the ball so far with pressing high the order of the day. The home side have forced their visitors into some misplaced passes early on, and Ridle Baku's shot high over the crossbar was the first attempt on goal of the day.
1'
WE'RE UNDERWAY
Dortmund in their yellow and black home kit here, Mainz in their usual red as we get things underway...
Kick-off!
KICK-OFF APPROACHING
We're less than five minutes from kick-off here in Mainz with the rain pouring down at the OPEL Arena.
MAINZ LOOKING FOR A BOUNCE BACK
After two wins on the bounce Mainz suffered a disappointing defeat away to Augsburg last weekend. The wins beforehand had come against no simple opposition either, with 2-1 and 5-1 victories over Frankfurt and Hoffenheim respectively. Playing at home has brought with it some inconsistent results so far for Mainz - in fact their form this season reads as follows: L, W, L, L, W, L, W - what will come today?
MARCO REUS DOESNT LIKE PLAYING AWAY
It's been a season of home comforts so far for Marco Reus with all eight of his Bundesliga goals this season coming at the Signal Iduna Park. Reus didn't score in this fixture last season, but he did assist Dortmund's opener for Paco Alcacer in a 2-1 win.
SCHULZ AND HUMMELS BACK IN
Dortmund's transition to three at the back has worked wonders so far, with three wins from three in all competitions with their new system, and nothing changes today. Mats Hummels is back from suspension to lead the defence and Nico Schulz is on the left flank with Raphael Guerreiro on the bench. Otherwise it's as you'd expect with Jadon Sancho, Marco Reus and Thorgan Hazard in attack.
HAKUNA MATETA!
Incredible news for Mainz fans as for the first time this season, Jean-Phillipe Mateta has been named in a Matchday squad. The 22-year-old French striker made a barn-storming start to life in the Bundesliga last season as he scored 14 goals in 34 appearances through his debut campaign. A knee ligament injury has tormented him so far this season, but he's now back for a pre-winter break comeback.
MAINZ LINE-UP!
Zentner – St. Juste, Fernandes, Niakhate (c) – Öztunali, Baku, Kunde, Martin – Boetius – Szalai, Quaison (SUBS: Müller, Pierre-Gabriel, Mateta, Maxim, Brosinski, Awoniyi, Burkhardt, Barreiro, Hack)
DORTMUND LINE-UP!
Bürki – Akanji, Hummels, Zagadou – Hakimi, Weigl, Brandt, Schulz – Sancho, Reus (c), Hazard (SUBS: Oelschlägel, Dahoud, Alcacer, Götze, Guerreiro, Balerdi, Morey, Piszczek, Bruun Larsen)
Welcome along to the match centre for the game Mainz vs. Dortmund from matchday 15 of the 2019/20 Bundesliga season at the OPEL ARENA. Check back here for full information on the match.