Borussia Dortmund Beat Mainz To Maintain Champions League Hopes Alive

Maximilian Beier scored twice as Borussia Dortmund gained 3-1 at house to Mainz within the Bundesliga on Sunday, conserving their slim hopes of European qualification alive. Champions League finalists final season, Dortmund had misplaced 4 of their previous six video games to sink to twelfth earlier than the match.  Dortmund had been with out injured striker Serhou Guirassy however Beier stuffed the void as he gave the hosts the lead after 32 minutes, ending off a objective he initiated. The 22-year-old Germany ahead gathered the ball in midfield, shed a defender and located Julian Brandt who whipped in a cross and Beier threaded the ball to Karim Adeyemi, who returned the favour, giving him a easy tap-in. 

Emre Can doubled Dortmund’s lead simply 4 minutes later, heading in a Nico Schlotterbeck nook.

Schlotterbeck provided Dortmund’s third as nicely within the 72nd minute, floating in an outstanding ball which allowed Beier to move house, earlier than Mainz pulled one again by means of Paul Nebel.

Dortmund supervisor Niko Kovac mentioned there was “nothing more beautiful than winning in football”, however added his facet’s work was solely simply getting began.

“We won today but with seven games left, we’ve got plenty more to do,” Kovac advised DAZN. 

The win was Dortmund’s first victory over Mainz in 4 makes an attempt, together with the notorious 2-2 draw in opposition to the identical opponents on the ultimate day of the 2022-23 season which value them the title.

Dortmund now sit tenth, 4 factors behind the European locations and 7 factors again from Mainz, who’re in fourth. 

Despite the loss, Mainz are two factors away from fifth-placed Borussia Moenchengladbach and are in with a great opportunity of a first-ever Champions League look. 

Union Berlin gained 2-1 at Freiburg, denting their opponents’ Champions League hopes whereas taking a serious step in the direction of sustaining their very own standing as a top-flight staff subsequent season. 

Freiburg took the lead with 29 minutes performed when Lucas Hoeler hammered in a Vincenzo Grifo cross. 

The guests hit again only one minute later, captain Rani Khedira firing in following an Andrej Ilic help. 

Ilic then received on the scoresheet three minutes into the second half, heading a Tim Skarke cross into the highest nook. 

The loss, simply Freiburg’s third house defeat of the season, leaves them in seventh, three factors off the highest 4. Freiburg have additionally by no means performed within the Champions League. 

The win took Union, who wanted a final-day victory final season at house in opposition to Freiburg to keep away from dropping into the second division, to 30 factors, eight away from the relegation playoff spot. 

Union’s current kind appears to have lifted the membership out of the relegation mire. 

In the previous three weeks, Union have overwhelmed top-four hopefuls Eintracht Frankfurt and Freiburg, whereas holding league leaders Bayern Munich to a draw at house. 

(This story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)