Unbeaten in 5 league games
Axel Witsel saved Borussia Dortmund from a blunder in the Bundesliga and reduced BVB’s gap to record champions FC Bayern to four points. The Belgian scored the winning goal in the 87th minute in the arduous 1-0 (0-0) win at corona-plagued FSV Mainz 05 and thus redeemed the team of head coach Marco Rose after a weak performance. With the recent minimalism in the 1-0 win against Arminia Bielefeld and now in Mainz, Dortmund got back on track in front of the eyes of national coach Hansi Flick and DFB President Bernd Neuendorf.
Top striker Erling Haaland was only substituted on again after an injury break. The Norwegian is still a long way from his gala form from the season so far, as could be seen in the catch-up game. Mainz defied the external circumstances after a two-week break due to corona, but was not rewarded with a draw in front of 25,000 spectators. It was the first home defeat for Mainz since October last year.
BVB squad 2021/22 sorted by market values - seven contracts are expiring
At the unusual time for the Bundesliga on Wednesday evening at 6.30 p.m., there was a duel that both clubs would have liked to have played on a different date. The people of Mainz, because most of them came fresh from quarantine after 20 corona cases (14 active people). Dortmund, because they had actually planned the Europa League date on Thursday before they failed at Glasgow Rangers a few weeks ago and carelessly squandered the next title chance after the DFB Cup and Champions League.
Without the ailing Marco Reus and without Mats Hummels – Rose spoke of an “oppressive feeling in the chest” after a corona infection – and initially without top scorer Haaland, BVB did not cut a good figure in the first half. In the absence of many regular players, not only was there a lack of pace and ideas, but also the necessary clout to pose serious problems for the hosts in the first place.
Witsel decides late: BVB stays tuned to Bayern
A single 50-meter solo by Mainz’s Anton Stach (16th) created more of a surprise than Borussia did in the entire first 45 minutes. Stach was only stopped by Emre Can, who built up in front of the BVB fan curve after an outstanding tackle and was celebrated. Jonathan Burkardt (27′) had another good chance for the Rheinhessen, but it was a goalless draw before the break. Instead, there was only a scuffle and a lot of hustle and bustle, but referee Sascha Stegemann refrained from more drastic consequences.
After the break, the picture was initially the same: Dortmund seemed inhibited, a Stach shot (51st) went just wide of the long goal corner after a sophisticated corner variant. Then Rose brought his top striker Haaland for Marius Wolf, it was a substitution that was long overdue from BVB’s point of view. But Mainz attacked unimpressed, Silvan Widmer (60th) and Karim Onisiwo (61st) missed further opportunities for a possible lead. Haaland’s first shot was parried relatively easily by Robin Zentner (68′). After that, not much happened – until Witsel scored just before the end and Julian Brandt had a huge chance in the five-minute stoppage time.
AWAY WIN! phew Important. pic.twitter.com/IWVHDsB3Ed
— Borussia Dortmund (@BVB) March 16, 2022
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