bundesliga

Borussia Dortmund frustrated by Mainz again

20.12.2023

Julian Brandt scored a stunning free-kick but Borussia Dortmund were again left frustrated by a dogged Mainz side in a 1-1 draw on Matchday 16.

Dortmund 1-1 Mainz
Goals: 1-0 Brandt (27'), 1-1 Van den Berg 43' (assist: Mwene)

Dortmund came into this game without a win in three Bundesliga outings and on the back of a disappointing 1-1 draw in Augsburg at the weekend. Added into the mix that it was against Mainz at the Signal Iduna Park that they let the 2022/23 title slip out of their grasp in May, it was perhaps no wonder that Edin Terzić’s charges began determined to make amends. The lively Jamie Bynoe-Gittens struck the crossbar inside eight minutes, and there were further chances for Niclas Füllkrug, Marcel Sabitzer and Donyell Malen in a one-sided first half before Brandt broke the deadlock with a sublime free-kick shortly before the half-hour mark. Sabitzer then hit the crossbar with a long-range drive as BVB sought to turn their superiority into goals, but instead Mainz equalised against the run of play, Sepp van den Berg heading in from close range just before half-time.

The Mainz players must have been on the receiving end of some strong words from interim coach Jan Siewert during the interval because they reemerged for the second half a changed team, with Philipp Mwene, Marco Richter and Karim Onisiwo all having efforts on goal inside the opening few minutes of the half. Richter later drew a good save from Gregor Kobel with a free-kick as the visitors not only went on the front foot, but also kept Dortmund well away from their goal. Terzić tried to change the flow of the game by introducing Sébastien Haller, Samuel Bamba and Gio Reyna off the bench, but even those fresh legs did little to interrupt Mainz’s dominance, as the away side continued to look the more likely to grab a winner. Reyna did have a goal disallowed for offside in stoppage time, but in truth a defeat would have been harsh on Mainz, who once again frustrated Dortmund on their own turf.

Match stats

Brandt's goal was only the second time he has scored from a direct free-kick in his career. His first was in September 2015 for Bayer Leverkusen against Werder Bremen.
The Germany international now has five Bundesliga goals this season, level with Füllkrug and Malen.
Van den Berg's goal was his first for Mainz and also the club's first from a defender in 2023/24.
Five of Mainz's 13 goals this term have come from crosses into the box.
Dortmund had 14 shots on goal in the first half, a new club record this season. They only had two in the second half, however.
Mainz are now unbeaten in six away matches. They have all been draws, with their last win on the road coming in April (3-0 at Leipzig).

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Watch: Edin Terzić voices disappointment

Teams

Dortmund: Kobel - Meunier (Wolf 81'), Hummels (Süle 46'), Schlotterbeck (Reyna 72'), Bensebaini - Sabitzer, Can (c), Brandt - Malen, Füllkrug (Haller 63'), Bynoe-Gittens (Bamba 63')
Unused subs: Meyer, Morey, Özcan, Reus
Out: Adeyemi (muscular), Moukoko (thigh), Nmecha (hip), Ryerson (knee)
Coach: Edin Terzić

Mainz: Batz - Widmer (c) (da Costa 90'+1), Van den Berg, Bell, Mwene - Kohr, Krauß - Gruda (Papela 69'), Lee, Richter (Burkardt 69') - Onisiwo (Barkok 90'+1)
Unused subs: Rieß, Wilhelm, Ajorque, Mautovic, Müller
Out: Barreiro (thigh), Caci (abdominals), Fernandes (thigh), Guilavogui (hamstring), Hanche-Olsen (ankle), Leitsch (thigh), Weiper (hamstring), Zentner (finger)
Coach: Jan Siewert