The Berlin gala in Dortmund's 4-1 triumph in the cup final over RB Leipzig was followed on Sunday by a BVB patience game, which is still worth seeing, after which the Westphalia have achieved their even bigger goal of the season: participation in the upcoming Champions League round.
With their colleagues from 1. FSV Mainz 05, who had been undefeated nine times in a row, the Westphalians, who had apparently hopelessly followed Bundesliga fourth Eintracht Frankfurt a few weeks ago, easily won 3: 1. The goals to the success contributed Guerreiro (23rd minute), Reus (42nd) and Brandt (80th) with a goal conceded by a penalty by Quaison (90th + 1). This means that the Borussia can no longer be overtaken by the Hessians, who recently got into a tailspin, with a deficit of four points on the 34th match day.
The joy that quickly became loud in the team could hardly be compared with the Berlin jubilation three days earlier. The sixth championship victory in a row proved the quality of the final sprint of the most spectacular German soccer team alongside the champions FC Bayern Munich. And that after all the Berlin festivities on a thunderstorm, shower-like evening, on which centimeter work was required against an initially massaged Mainz defense. In the end, captain Marco Reus summed up the Dortmund season finale as follows: “When we are asked, we are capable of great things. The team deserves an incredible compliment for the strong mentality we've shown over the past few weeks. What we have caught up plus the cup win is sensational. "
Coach Edin Terzic was also completely satisfied. "It was about showing a good reaction after the terrific night on Thursday", he praised the professional attitude of his players in Mainz. A season with a coach dismissal like that of Lucien Favre could "never be good", but BVB at least "got out of the crisis with hard work". If you now see "how each individual is happy for the other, it is unbelievable".
What made the task of the black-yellows, who were concentrated from the start, easier, was the Rheinhessen's ability to stay in class on Saturday, who, after 29 points in the second half of the season and just seven before that, had achieved their goal on Saturday without a game because of the favorable results of the competition for Mainz . At the end of their Sunday game, which was only briefly disturbed by the atmosphere, both the celebrating professionals from 1. FSV 05 and BVB 09 were extremely satisfied with their season's earnings this year.
It was understandable that both teams met almost amicably under the prevailing circumstances. The Dortmunders with their multitude of first-class kickers were accommodated by the Mainz reluctance. Whenever possible, they played their qualities to the fore. So at 1-0, when Meunier crossed unrestrictedly, buyer Sancho had an eye for the free run Guerreiro and who heaved the ball from the corner of the penalty area with the left into the right corner of the goal. The 2-0 draw shortly before the break was also initiated by the English ball artist Sancho, when he gave Reus free rein, which the again convincing Borussia leader used as requested for the second goal from a short goal distance.
With that the duel, which was never pointed at the top, was already decided. Because of the storm, the restart was delayed by a quarter of an hour. After that, both teams continued their compulsory program to the best of their ability, without shifting the unequal balance of power. Now the Mainz team also had a few chances to score. The captain Latza, who switched to Schalke, was close to a hit in his bright shot, but Bürki prevented it with a magnificent save (64th). BVB, however, remained decisive in the game, resolving its compulsory task after winning the cup and increasing it to 3-0 thanks to Brandt, who had recently been substituted on. The Mainz team secured the consolation prize at the end of the day when Quaison made it 3-1 with a hand penalty (90th + 1).