1. FSV Mainz 05 has defied the corona chaos impressively and RB Leipzig’s new coach Jesse Marsch spoiled the league debut with a surprise coup. After turbulent days, the rump team of the Rheinhessen, battered by numerous corona-related failures, prevailed 1-0 (1-0) against the runner-up thanks to a passionate performance.
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Mainz captain Moussa Niakhate (13th) rewarded the courageous performance of the team of coach Bo Svensson – and missed Marsch, successor to Julian Nagelsmann, a bitter damper in his first game in the Bundesliga. After champions Bayern Munich started stuttering, the Saxons did not manage to set an example in the fight for the title right at the start of the season.
After the surprise success in front of 10,500 spectators, there was pure euphoria in the Mainz camp. “In a game like this one is driven by the unfamiliar atmosphere and everyone grows beyond themselves for those at home, for those on the bench”, summarized FSV sports director Martin Schmidt on DAZN-Microphone to the loud cheering chants of the Mainz appendix with shining eyes: “This victory was happy and fought, but it also shows that the team spirit is right with us. This means we have a lot for a solid season.”
After four corona cases, including three players, the situation at Mainz was extremely tense – because eight unvaccinated and unnamed professionals were also quarantined. Only the failure of striker Karim Onisiwo was officially announced before the game.
The lack of clarity about the Mainz line-up was no reason for Marsch’s defeat in Leipzig. “The early goal hurt, but we didn’t find enough solutions with the ball and weren’t clever enough. That’s why we didn’t have enough chances to score,” said the coach.
Svensson had to make five changes in the starting XI compared to the DFB Cup game at SV Elversberg (8: 7 iE). Several professionals from the second team and the youth cavorted on the bench. “The disadvantage is huge, that’s clear,” said Svensson.
Leipzig newcomer Andre Silva is in the air
But there was hardly anything to be seen of it. The decimated Mainz team, which had only trained together on Friday this week, fought their way into the game with great passion – and thanks to Niakhat’s goal from the crowd, they took the lead early on. Jae-Sung Lee (5th) had already hit the post beforehand.
On the other hand, the more individually occupied Leipzigers acted slowly in the first round, had great problems with the attack-like attacks by the Mainz – and also remained harmless on the offensive. New signing Andre Silva was in the air in the center of the storm.
The only dicey situation for Mainz cleared up young professional Niklas Tauer (29th) with a spectacular tackle against Christopher Nkunku – the 20-year-old convinced as well as starting eleven Paul Nebel (18). The loss of regular employees such as Jeremiah St. Juste, Dominik Kohr or Adam Szalai was hardly noticeable.
Stefan Bell scores an alleged 2-0 for Mainz
While the march team tried to control the game after the break and was twice dangerous by Mohamed Simakan (58th / 59th), Mainz was waiting for a counterattack. Nebel (51.) failed before the Leipzig double chance to RB goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi.
The efforts of Leipzig, who came up with another good opportunity through Silva (73rd), put up a great fight against Mainz in the final phase. A goal from Stefan Bell (75th) was denied because the ball was said to have been out of bounds at the previous corner.
1. FSV Mainz 05 – RB Leipzig: The lineups
Mainz: Zentner – Niakhate, Bell, Alexander Hack – Widmer, Tauer (86th Fürstner), Barreiro, Martin – Burkardt, Lee (90th + 1 Kilian), Nebel (89th Rösch). – Trainer: Svensson
1. FSV Mainz 05 – RB Leipzig: The voices of the coach
Bo Svensson (Mainz): “I had a lot of quarreling all week. I was on the road with a lot of self-pity. At some point I flipped the switch. How the players solved it, how they functioned as a group, that’s just very remarkable. I’m very proud The boys showed what I asked for. They showed character and attitude. “
Jesse Marsch (Leipzig): “It’s a difficult moment for the group, but we have to be ready for a good reaction. The first half wasn’t good enough. We weren’t that sharp from the start, we weren’t lively enough. We have to and will play better. “
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