In a not-so-warm start to matchday eleven – it was the first cold game of the Bundesliga season – Hoffenheim were at least able to celebrate captain Oliver Baumann’s 500th Bundesliga appearance.
Mainz’s Dominik Kohr was shown a red card for a serious foul on Max Moerstedt in the 88th minute. He set a Bundesliga record with his ninth career dismissal. Meanwhile, TSG was unable to set a club record with a fifth consecutive win.
Hanche-Olsen surprised his own goalkeeper
Hoffenheim still remains at the top of the group. Despite the fact that Kraichgau society is currently experiencing tumultuous times. Managing directors Markus Schütz and Frank Briel were recently fired in a power struggle for patron Dietmar Hopp. Additionally, club chairman Jörg Albrecht resigned.
According to media reports, sporting director Andreas Schicker is also facing a move to currently less successful league rivals VfL Wolfsburg. But the professionals around Baumann and veteran Andrej Kramaric are currently facing some difficulties.
Something similar happened on an uncomfortable Friday night in front of a crowd of 30,400 in Mainz. The first goal opportunity of the match was very emblematic of the current situation of the two clubs: Mainz centre-back Hanche-Olsen directed a cross from Wouter Burger into his own net from about 14 meters away. Goalkeeper Robin Zentner was surprised by his Norwegian teammate’s carelessness.
Only in Europe is Mainz perfect
Hoffenheim controlled more of the game soon after and, apart from a shot from Fisnik Asllani (15th), barely managed to finish. The Mainz team, on the other hand, looked too predictable.
The midfield around Nadiem Amiri and Paul Nebel is currently unable to make an impact, nor can speedy offensive lineman Benedict Hollerbach, who was expected to make a big breakthrough before this season. But this time Hollerbach was one of the better ones.
The Mainz team, which is still performing perfectly in the Conference League, is still missing the experience of real revival in the national competition. While everything seems to be going well in Europe, coach Bo Henriksen’s side appear to be hampered – and out of luck – in the Bundesliga. Mainz last won in the league two months ago at Augsburg.
After the break, the hosts increased the pressure and achieved a better goal. Hollerbach (55) and winger Phillipp Mwene (58) finished in promising positions, but fell short. The game became faster in the final phase and TSG lost opportunities to make early decisions. When Joker da Costa equalized, the goal came too late after a period of pressure from Mainz.
