BVB currently lead the Bundesliga standings, sitting two points ahead of perennial champions Bayern Munich. It is a remarkable achievement for Borussia Dortmund, especially considering they sold their prolific goal scorer, Erling Braut Haaland, just under a year ago. Head coach Edin Terzic is aiming to follow in the footsteps of Jurgen Klopp and bring the title back to Dortmund, putting an end to Bayern's decade-long dominance. Recent weeks have seen Dortmund capitalize on Bayern's dip in form, winning their last three matches against Wolfsburg, Borussia Monchengladbach, and Augsburg with an impressive aggregate score of 14-2.
Their victories include a commanding 6-0 win over Wolfsburg and a convincing 5-2 triumph against Monchengladbach. Last Sunday, Dortmund secured a 3-0 home win against Augsburg, who were reduced to 10 men, courtesy of goals from Sebastian Haller (2) and Julian Brandt. The victory came on the same day Bayern suffered a 3-1 defeat at home to RB Leipzig.
Dortmund had trailed Bayern by nine points after matchday 15 but have gradually closed the gap, ultimately claiming the top spot in the league last weekend. This achievement makes them the first team since Stuttgart in 2006-07 to reach the summit within the final two matchdays of the Bundesliga.
Confidence will be high for Dortmund as they aim to secure the necessary three points to clinch the title on Saturday. Their home record this season has been outstanding, with 14 wins and one draw in 16 matches at Westfalenstadion. They are currently enjoying an impressive run of 11 consecutive home victories, dating back to October, which is their best since a club-record streak of 12 in 1994.
On the other hand, Mainz experienced a strong period between February 11 and April 22, remaining unbeaten in the Bundesliga for 10 games, the longest streak in the division during that time. This run saw them climb the league table and contend for a European qualification spot for the first time since 2015-16. However, their hopes were dashed after suffering four consecutive league defeats, conceding at least three goals in each match, including a 4-1 loss at home to relegation-threatened Stuttgart last weekend.
Although Marcus Ingvartsen put Mainz in front during the first half, Wataru Endo equalized for Stuttgart just before halftime, leading to a second-half collapse by Mainz, who conceded three goals in the final 26 minutes. It was the first time this season that Mainz suffered back-to-back home losses.
Currently occupying ninth place in the Bundesliga table, Mainz can only finish as high as eighth, with a two-point gap separating them from Eintracht Frankfurt. Ending the season on a positive note may prove challenging for Mainz, especially against a title-chasing Dortmund side they have only beaten once in their last nine league encounters.
