Guirassy brace as Dortmund beat Mainz 4-0 and close in on Bayern

Serhou Guirassy headed a brace and Julian Ryerson assisted all goals as Borussia Dortmund defeated Mainz 4-0 on Friday to keep the pressure on Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich with a sixth straight victory.

Guirassy nodded Dortmund ahead 10 minutes into the game off Ryerson free-kick from the right.

Five minutes later another Ryerson cross found Maximilian Beier at the far post, and his header went in off the arm of Mainz goalkeeper Daniel Batz for 2-0.

Mainz' Silas aimed inches wide and team-mate Silvan Widmer was ruled offside when he found the net, but Mainz were 3-0 down in the 42nd when a corner-kick from Ryerson was nodded home by Guirassy.

Ramy Bensebaini wrapped up matters in the 84th off another Ryerson corner, after Dortmund had wasted several more chances in the second half.

Striker Guirassy has five goals from the last three games after managing only six in the first 19 of the season.

"We were more efficient and scored at the right time. We controlled the second half. We wished for such a safe victory. I am satisfied," Dortmund coach Niko Kovac told Sky TV.

Dortmund moved within three points of Bayern, who can restore a six-point advantage with victory at lowly Werder Bremen on Saturday. Dortmund host Bayern in a fortnight.

The victory will also boost Dortmund for their Champions League play-off tie with Atalanta which starts next week.

Mainz are 14th, having won their previous three matches to leave the danger zone.

"We didn't play a really bad away game but the set pieces killed us," Batz said. "You can lose in Dortmund, we must get the points somewhere else."