Goals from Marco Reus and Henrikh Mkhitaryan fired Borussia Dortmund to a 2-0 win at Mainz, ending their four-game winless streak in all competitions.
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Tuchel – coming up against his former club for the first time – was pleased with how his side responded. Dortmund needed a bounce back performance after a disastrous loss to Bayern Munich two weeks ago.
Tuchel was back in Mainz for the first time since leaving the club in 2014 after 170 matches and five years during which he lifted them into the top levels of the Bundesliga, earning a UEFA Europa League place in his final season in charge.
Mainz have lost seven of their last eight games against Dortmund.
Reus passed up the chance at a second from the spot after the restart, but Mkhitaryan scored his fourth of the season to seal Dortmund’s first league win since September 20.
Dortmund have been in mixed shape in their four away matches so far this season, as they have recorded two victories, one draw and one defeat in the process.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan put the result beyond doubt eight minutes from time, sloppy play in the Mainz defence allowing the Armenian in to score as it had for Reus’ opener. He took past year off before accepting the challenge of replacing Jürgen Klopp as Dortmund boss.
Mainz coach Martin Schmidt praised Tuchel for his work at the Coface Arena and noted the current Dortmund trainer should take the credit for his ascendency to the Bundesliga. The crowd at the Coface Arena didn’t welcome Tuchel back with much admiration. Previous draws at Hoffenheim and at home to Darmstadt in the Bundesliga showed there are still things to be ironed out, especially at the back. He was whistled by the Mainz supporters at the start of the game.
Muto had a half-chance in the 58th minute but ran out of space before he could actually get a shot against the advancing, sliding Bürki, who read Yunus Malli’s touch-pass well and cut down the available angle immediately.
Die Borussen were playing their first competitive match since they were beaten 5-1 by Bayern Munich before the worldwide break and the victory was also their first success in four matches in all competitions. They will wait to see if Bayern continue their winning ways tomorrow morning.
Borussia Dortmund’s Marco Reus finally ended his goal drought, scoring the opening goal in their away win to FSV Mainz 05 in the German Bundesliga.
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Robert Lewandowski has 12 goals in eight games – five more than the whole Bremen team – prompting speculation the Bayern striker could beat Gerd Mueller’s record of 40 from the 1970-71 season.
