Dortmund rout Mainz

Mainz 0-4 Borussia Dortmund
Goals: 0-1 Reus (32'), 0-2 Sancho (66'), 3-0 Hazard (69'), 0-4 Schulz (84')

Fresh from booking their place in the UEFA Champions League round of 16, Dortmund made their intentions clear from the get-go. Schulz had two early chances, but the Mainz defence were doing everything to keep their visitors out with a host of shots blocked in the early stages. Reus had the best chance of the half when found in front of goal by Schulz, but Robin Zentner got the better of the BVB captain. Six minutes later, however, it was a different story. Hazard's cross was cleared only as far as Reus on the edge of the box and he duly lashed home his 125th Bundesliga goal with a sweet volley. Dortmund's new tactical set-up with three defenders and four across midfield has worked wonders in recent weeks and they could have been more goals to the good before the break had Julian Brandt's pass to Reus on the counter been better placed. The away side had 11 attempts on goal in total in the first half to Mainz's one, with Reus having four of those himself.

The second half was a slow burner until the 66th minute when Dortmund kicked into life and secured all three points. Dan-Axel Zagadou took the ball from his own box to the edge of the Mainz penalty area before laying on a perfect pass for the in-form Sancho to smash home. Three minutes later, and Hazard got in on the act with a thunderbolt. Found by Reus' pass, the Belgium international took aim from 25 yards and gave Zentner no chance by finding the top corner of the Mainz net. Sancho had two opportunites to complete his brace, finding the post with a deflected effort with 15 minutes to play before Schulz rounded off the scoring with his first goal for Dortmund, thanks to Sancho's assist.

• Sancho has had a hand in 16 league goals this season (scoring and assisting eight each), which is more than any player under the age of 20 in Europe’s top five leagues.
• The Englishman has now also scored in six games in a row for Dortmund in all competitions, with seven being scored in total.
• Reus scored the opening goal of a Bundesliga game for the 50th time.
• Reus also produced his first goal and assist away from home this season, with his first nine Bundesliga goals and assists coming at home.
• Dortmund have now won eight of their last 10 matches against Mainz (D1, L1).
• Mainz have now lost 10 games this season, only five less than the club's total mark in 2018/19.

Watch: Sancho: "Marco Reus, Thorgan Hazard and I have a good connection"

Mainz: Zentner – St. Juste, Fernandes, Niakhate (c) – Öztunali, Baku, Kunde (Brosinski 86'), Martin – Boetius (Maxim 76') – Szalai (Mateta 81'), Quaison
Unused subs: Müller, Pierre-Gabriel, Awoniyi, Burkhardt, Barreiro, Hack
Out: Bell (ankle), Ji (knee), Latza (back), Onisiwo (knee)
Coach: Achim Beierlorzer

Dortmund: Bürki – Akanji, Hummels, Zagadou – Hakimi, Weigl, Brandt (Dahoud 80'), Schulz – Sancho (Alcacer 85'), Reus (c) (Götze 73'), Hazard
Unused subs: Oelschlägel, Guerreiro, Balerdi, Morey, Piszczek, Bruun Larsen
Out: Delaney (ankle), Schmelzer (calf), Witsel (facial injury)
Coach: Lucien Favre

Watch: Brandt: "Good to show we can battle in hard-fought games"