2-1 - Aubameyang double hands BVB hard-fought win

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored both goals (17, 89) in front of 81,360 spectators at a sold-out SIGNAL IDUNA PARK, firstly from a header following a wonderful cross from André Schürrle and secondly from the spot late on. The Gabon international has now scored six times in four games on the first day of the season. Mutu (90+2) did pull one back for Mainz but it was nothing more than late consolation for the visitors.

Felix Ulrich reporting

The scenario
"We're ready, absolutely 100 percent ready," said FSV coach Martin Schmidt prior to kick-off. The same could be said of Borussia, who had made a real impression both in the Super Cup final ‒ despite losing to FC Bayern ‒ and in their DFB Cup clash in Trier. In any case, the statistics were certainly in the Black and Yellows' favour. Borussia had won nine of their previous ten clashes against Mainz and were unbeaten in 21 matches at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK in a run that started over 15 months ago.

Personnel matters
Borussia Dortmund started their first match of the 2016/17 season with the same ten outfield players that began Monday's 3-0 win over Eintracht Trier. The only change came in goal, where Bürki replaced Weidenfeller. Absentees against Mainz included Reus, Götze (lack of match fitness), Durm (knee operation), Subotic (chest operation), Bender und Ginter (rested after Olympic duty).

Mainz travelled without Curci (calf), Jairo (medial collateral ligament), Latza (adductors), Zimling and Berggreen (both cruciate ligament). Schmidt made four changes to the team that beat SpVgg Unterhaching 4-2 in a penalty shootout, introducing Malli, Clemens, Gbamin and Onisiwo to the starting XI.

Tactics
Borussia lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in which both full-backs ‒ especially Schmelzer on the left ‒ looked to push high up the pitch when the hosts had the ball. This allowed Schürrle to move inside, leaving the Black and Yellows in the 3-2-4-1 formation they so often resorted to during the second half of last season. Mainz sought to counter the Dortmund attacks by lining up in a 4-1-4-1 system with Gbamin as a centre-back, while "number ten" Malli played up top as a "false nine".

The match & analysis
From the off BVB struggled to get to grips with their visitors. For 45 minutes the men from Mainz defiantly held their own, countered quickly and looked to shoot. In terms of shots, the 05ers even led at the break ‒ a rarity against a Borussia side otherwise so strong at home.

The first moment of contention came in the 09th minute. Following a free-kick by Castro, Bell's foot was high in a challenge with Bartra. As the Mainz man made minimal contact with the Spaniard there was no penalty, though there should have been an indirect free-kick for BVB in the area. However, referee Robert Hartmann let play continue.

BVB's first real chance came in the 16th minute when Schürrle nodded down to Aubameyang, whose shot was parried away for a corner by Lössl. Then, in the aftermath of that set-piece, the 05ers were caught napping. BVB took a short corner and the ball was played to Schürrle, who crossed it to the far post and Aubameyang got in behind Gbamin to nod home (17). 

But taking the lead did not put the Black and Yellows in control, as spaces continued to open up for Mainz. Bürki was at full-stretch for Frei's shot from a centre-left position (26), before Clemens' effort from the edge of the area went sailing over the crossbar (27). And then, Bürki was on hand once again to deny Onisiwo's effort (30).

Sebastian Rode squanders chance to double lead

Though the visitors had the first major chance of the second half shortly after the break through Clemens (48), who was clean through on goal with only Bürki to beat after being given too much space by Schmelzer, BVB had the match under better control in the second half.

The statistics attest to that, with the shots ratio 13:10 in BVB's favour after an hour despite being 6:7 at the break. Borussia were more trigger-happy, but did not create any gilt-edged chances. The best chance to double their lead fell to Rode in the 59th minute after set-up play from Kagawa and Schürrle.

Aubameyang calm from the spot

Both teams subsequently cancelled each other out, though BVB had the slight upper hand for the rest of the match, keeping their shape following the substitutions (Weigl for Castro, 59; Piszczek for Passlack, 76; Guerreiro for Rode, 86) and maintaining their defensive stability. By skilfully playing the ball within their own ranks, the Black and Yellows denied their visitors the chance to get shots away, and then doubled their lead from the spot when Onisiwo fouled Schürrle (89). Aubameyang converted coolly to secure BVB's first three points of the new season, with Mutu's consolation (90+2) to make it 2-1 too little too late for Mainz.

Prospects
BVB will not resume their Bundesliga campaign for a fortnight, when they travel away to Leipzig (Saturday, 18:30 CET). Four days later the Black and Yellows kick off the Champions League group stages away to Legia Warsaw, before playing SV Darmstadt 98 at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK on 17 September.

Teams & goals