DORTMUND, GERMANY — With contrasting ambitions defining their seasons, third-placed Borussia Dortmund delivered a ruthless 4-0 dismantling of relegation-threatened Mainz at Signal Iduna Park, with Serhou Guirassy's clinical double inside the opening 42 minutes setting the platform for a comprehensive victory. The result extends Dortmund's impressive form and leaves Mainz marooned at the foot of the Bundesliga table, their defensive frailties brutally exposed by the hosts' attacking prowess.
The tone was set early as Julian Ryerson emerged as Dortmund's chief creative force down the right flank. The Norwegian full-back delivered a pinpoint cross in the 10th minute that Guirassy met with a towering header, directing the ball into the bottom left corner past the helpless Daniel Batz. It was a statement of intent from the hosts, who had entered the fixture knowing that maximum points were essential to maintain pressure on the top two.
Maximilian Beier doubled the advantage just five minutes later with another headed finish, this time from the left side of the six-yard box. Once again, Ryerson was the architect, whipping in a dangerous delivery that the forward attacked with conviction, nodding home into the bottom left corner. The early two-goal cushion allowed Dortmund to dictate terms, and Mainz's attempts to mount any meaningful response were consistently thwarted by a well-organized home defense marshaled by Niklas Süle.
Guirassy wasn't finished. The striker added his second in the 42nd minute, rising highest to meet yet another Ryerson cross following a corner kick. His header found the top left corner, leaving Batz with no chance and effectively ending the contest before halftime. The Guinean international's movement in the box proved too much for Mainz's backline to handle, with his positioning and timing exemplifying the clinical finishing that has made him such a valuable asset this season.
The second half saw Dortmund manage the game intelligently, though they continued to create opportunities. Felix Nmecha forced a save from Batz in the 52nd minute after being teed up by Daniel Svensson, while Fábio Silva—introduced as a substitute—saw his header from the center of the box pushed away by the Mainz goalkeeper in the 67th minute. Gregor Kobel, relatively untroubled in the Dortmund goal, was called into action late on, making five saves including a double stop to deny Nelson Weiper from point-blank range in the 88th minute.
The statistical dominance told its own story. Dortmund enjoyed 54.7% of possession and registered 14 shots to Mainz's 10, with eight of those efforts testing Batz compared to five that required Kobel's intervention. The hosts' superiority was further emphasized by their seven corners to Mainz's two, with set-pieces proving particularly fruitful. The disciplinary count reflected a competitive encounter, with three yellow cards shown to Dortmund—including late bookings for Carney Chukwuemeka and Fábio Silva—and two to the visitors, Stefan Posch cautioned in the 56th minute for a cynical challenge.
Ramy Bensebaini added the fourth goal in the 84th minute, powering home a header from very close range after Ryerson—who else?—delivered another dangerous cross following a corner. The Algerian defender's late contribution capped a performance that showcased Dortmund's aerial threat, with all four goals coming via headers. Mainz's inability to defend set-pieces and crosses proved catastrophic, their defensive organization crumbling under sustained pressure.
Manager substitutions told the story of the match's trajectory. Dortmund introduced fresh legs with Karim Adeyemi and Marcel Sabitzer entering for Guirassy and Nmecha in the 74th minute, while Mainz's changes—bringing on Nelson Weiper, Phillipp Mwene, Paul Nebel, and Sheraldo Becker—failed to spark any revival. The visitors managed just five shots on target despite their personnel adjustments, with Kobel comfortably dealing with anything directed his way.
The tactical battle was decidedly one-sided. Dortmund's high press disrupted Mainz's attempts to build from the back, forcing hurried clearances and turnovers in dangerous areas. Julian Brandt orchestrated proceedings from midfield, his intelligent movement and distribution creating space for runners, while Jobe Bellingham provided energy and bite in the center of the park. Mainz's midfield duo of Kaishu Sano and Dominik Kohr were overrun, unable to stem the tide of yellow-and-black attacks.
For Mainz, the defeat represents another damaging blow in their fight for survival. Sitting 18th with just seven points from 14 matches, their goal difference of minus-13 reflects the struggles they've endured. Danny da Costa and Silas Katompa Mvumpa worked tirelessly on the flanks, but their efforts were in vain against opponents operating on a different level. The visitors' best moment came when Nadiem Amiri's 51st-minute effort from distance forced a save from Kobel, but such chances were few and far between.
Dortmund's attacking quartet of Guirassy, Beier, Brandt, and Ryerson combined superbly, their understanding and movement causing constant problems. The hosts' ability to exploit wide areas and deliver quality crosses proved decisive, with Ryerson's four assists—though only three resulted in goals—highlighting his exceptional performance. The Norwegian's positioning and delivery were exemplary, consistently finding teammates in dangerous positions.
The victory maintains Dortmund's pursuit of Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen at the summit, their 29 points from 14 matches keeping them firmly in the title conversation. The clean sheet will please the coaching staff, with Nico Schlotterbeck and Ramy Bensebaini forming a solid partnership at the heart of defense. Their composure under pressure and ability to initiate attacks from deep positions added another dimension to Dortmund's play.
Brighter days lie ahead for Dortmund, starting with their challenging trip to face RB Leipzig on February 21. Meanwhile, Mainz must regroup quickly before traveling to Hamburg SV on the same date, desperately needing points to ignite their survival bid.