Borussia Dortmund’s earnings crisis in the Bundesliga is getting worse. BVB also couldn’t win the home game against relegation candidate FSV Mainz 05 and had to settle for a 1-1 (1-1). The pressure on coach Edin Terzic is increasing.
Sepp van der Berg (43′) equalized the lead through Julian Brandt (29′) before the break. This means that both teams’ winless streak continues. At Borussia, memories of the unspeakable season finale at the end of May were brought back, when the BVBers lost what they thought was a certain championship against Mainz with a 2-2 draw in the home game.
BVB have not won in six competitive games
BVB has now been without success for six competitive games. If VfB Stuttgart wins on Wednesday (December 20, 2023), the gap to fourth place in the Champions League will already be six points. This means that it will be an uncomfortable Christmas, especially for Dortmund coach Edin Terzic, and the discussions about his coaching position will gain momentum.
Sports show, December 19, 2023 10:30 p.m
“That was definitely a setback. We played a great game in the first half and should have been leading by a lot more. Then we conceded a goal and miss everything that made us strong.”BVB coach Edin Terzic summarized the game on the sports show microphone.
Siewert: “Tick would have deserved more”
For the Rheinhessen it was the sixth Bundesliga game in a row without a three-pointer, but they were able to celebrate this point win in Dortmund like a small victory.
“I think we deserved a bit more, even in the second half. We defended higher and more courageously and kept Dortmund away from our goal. One or two goals could have been scored for us.”said 05 coach Jan Siewert, whose continued employment will be negotiated during the winter break.
Sports show, December 19, 2023 10:30 p.m
More promising Beginning of Dortmund
Mainz initially left the initiative to Borussia – without Marco Reus, but with Marcel Sabitzer again. And BVB immediately increased the pace, especially with Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, who only aimed for the bottom edge of the crossbar in the seventh minute. It was a clear signal in which direction the game should go.
The music played predominantly in the Mainz half. Because BVB also had a lot of bad passes, everything seemed a bit awkward. So a standard situation was needed: foul on Sabitzer, and Julian Brandt beautifully sank the free kick from 18 meters into the net. 05 substitute keeper Daniel Batz stretched in vain, but only touched the ball with his fingertips.
Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck in a duel with Mainz’s Brajan Gruda
Opportunities for higher leadership
Dortmund continued to turn things up. Sabitzer also hit the crossbar (31′), and Niclas Füllkrug should have made it 2-0 (33′). When in the majority, the national striker finished too stubbornly. Instead of taking a clearer lead, Mainz came out stronger towards the end of the first half – and achieved success.
After a long Mwene cross to the second post, the tall Dutchman Sepp van den Berg rose higher than Füllkrug and Emre Can and headed over the line. A good and superior first half ended in disillusionment for the Black and Yellows.
BVB completely unsettled in the second half
And the equalizer also had an impact in the second half. There was no longer any sign of BVB’s superiority in the first half. Dortmund, with Niklas Süle replacing Mats Hummels in the second half, played inhibited and without energy. The Mainz team, on the other hand, felt that there was something to be gained in Dortmund.
Edin Terzic reacted to his team’s halting flow of play and brought in two new offensive men: the young Samuel Bamba (second Bundesliga appearance) and the experienced Sebastien Haller. The weak Füllkrug and Bynoe-Gittens had to go.
Whistles from the BVB fans
But it stayed that way: Dortmund continued to play in an unsettled and unimaginative manner, with no rebellion against the impending draw. There was no one to be seen in the black and yellow jersey taking control of the game. When Johnny Burkhart even had the chance to score Mainz’s winning goal in the final phase, there were shrill whistles from some of the BVB fans, while the Mainz supporters who had traveled with them celebrated their team after the end of the game.
BVB is coming to Darmstadt in the new year, Wolfsburg is coming to Mainz
BVB continues in 2024 with a guest appearance at Darmstadt 98 (Saturday, January 13, 2024, 6:30 p.m.). The Mainz team hosts VfL Wolfsburg on the same day (3:30 p.m.).