What seemed to be the start of a brilliant game for Borussia Dortmund, with a goal from Erling Haaland in the second minute (but canceled for offside), ended up turning this Saturday into almost a nightmare. And thank goodness for the Signal Iduna Park team that Thomas Meunier avoided their defeat against the now penultimate, Mainz, who could have even won (1-1).
Marco Reus had Borussia Dortmund's victory in his boots, but he threw a penalty on Meunier himself 3 minutes after the Belgian side's goal. It was certainly not the best afternoon for Edin Terzic's, quarterfinals of the Bundesliga, 4 points behind the leader Bayern (which hosts Freiburg this Sunday).
After Haaland's goal was annulled, Dortmund had a first-half of intense dominance, with many chances to have scored. The best, the shot at the stick starring Jude Bellingham. But those of Signal Iduna Park did not have their best day in front of the opposite goal against Mainz that knew how to defend themselves very well.
In the second half, the penultimate classified in the Bundesliga went ahead thanks to Levin Mete Oztunali, author of a great goal with the left, for the squad, after a personal move, in which he starred in a good internship. It was the 57th minute. A great blow for Borussia Dortmund. And almost then Mainz crashed a crossbar with which they could have sentenced the match.
It was a Dortmund that was lacking creativity against a brave opponent. But then Meunier appeared, scoring in the 73rd minute after a play by Yussoufa Moukoko. In 76 'Meunier himself was the subject of a maximum penalty by Alexander Hack. Reus did not take advantage of it. The 1-1 was a lesser evil for Edin Terzic's team and the point allowed Mainz to go from bottom to bottom. Schalke is last, but with the same points as Mainz.