Jürgen Klopp, who starred for Mainz before joining the managerial ranks, saw his Borussia Dortmund fall 1-0 to the Rheinland-Pfalz side. With the result, BVB hold onto third place of the Bundesliga table, a scant point behind Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the final Champions League spot, whilst Mainz sit comforably at tenth.

Before a packed Stadion am Bruchweg, the Dortmunders were without the services of Sebastian Kehl and though they showed early spark, they lacked the final touch. After seeing a Jakub Błaszczykowski effort come up short at the third minute, BVB squandered a series of chances midway of the opening half. Mainz ‘keeper Heinz Müller stopped Lucas Barrios from close range before on two separate occasions as these situations often occur, Dortmund would rue their missed chances. At the half hour, Ádám Szalai moved past Mats Hummels before firing the ball into the net, past BVB ‘keeper Roman Weidenfellerr to give Mainz the 1-0 lead. With the one goal lead, the hosts buoyed with confidence and locked out further chances by Dortmund through the balance of the half.

Jürgen Klopp’s side, with a chance to move to third place for the all-important Champions League spot, were lacking venom and in an effort to spark the attack, Nelson Valdez was summoned in for Kevin Großkreutz just before the hour. Continuing to tinker with his line-up, the Dortmund mastermind called in Tamás Hajnal for Kuba with twenty-one minutes left, yet still the hosts were snuffing out BVB’s advances. As the match ticked down both Nelson Valdez and Patrick Owomoyela had chances to level in the final ten minutes but both were lacking and Mainz laid claim to the full three points with a 1-0 victory.

Prepared by J. Davies
©Europa League News, 2010.
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On the strength of Sebastian Prödl’s second-half goal, Werder Bremen defeated Mainz 2-1 at Stadion am Bruchweg. The victory pushes Werder Bremen to the sixth spot of the Bundesliga table, one point behind Borussia Dortmund, whilst Mainz nestle in at tenth.

Undefeated at home entering the day, Mainz immediately went on the attack. However, those early opportunities were thrown aside when Florian Heller was given a straight red-card at the fourteenth minute for a foolish retaliation aimed at Aaron Hunt. Thomas Schaaf’s side took advantage of the situation and opening the score sheet a minute past the half-hour as Tim Borowski’s free kick from twenty-seven metres got past Mainz ‘keeper Heinz Müller. Fortune turned the hosts way just before the break as Aristide Bancé’s effort from the edge of the area levelled the affair.

Die Grün-Weißen took the 2-1 lead three minutes after the restart as Austria international Sebastian Prödl sent a powerful drive off the post and into the net. With the lead, Werder turned its attention to locking down Mainz’s advances, which they did to perfection. Without further incident the match concluded as Werder Bremen claimed all three points with a 2-1 victory.

Werder Bremen returns to play on Saturday as they welcome surging VfB Stuttgart to Weserstadion, whilst Mainz travels to Sinsheim to face 1899 Hoffenheim the following day.

Prepared by J. Davies
©Europa League News, 2010.
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In a tough mid-table battle, VfL Bochum fought Mainz to draw at the Stadion am Bruchweg. With the result Mainz’s, modest chance for a European berth stays alive as they sit eighth in the Bundesliga table, whilst Bochum is twelfth.

Die Nullfünfer created a number of fine chances early, including Filip Trojan accepting Florian Heller provision in prime scoring territory but his effort was off-course. Later, Bochumer goalkeeper Philipp Heerwagen did well to deny Aristide Bance’s header. Bochum squandered their own chances, with Joël Epalle’s effort stopped by Mainz ‘keeper Heinz Müller and Zlatko Dedič sending his chance wide before the half-hour.

After the break, neither side was showing the needed touch to cut threw the opposition. With twenty-three minutes remaining, Mainz manager Thomas Tuchel summoned Austrian international Andreas Ivanschitz and Ádám Szalai as they searched for the much-needed winning striker. However, Bochum was resolute in defending and without a successful attacking venture to note, the match concluded as a nil draw.

Both sides return to play on Saturday as VfL Bochum welcomes Nürnberg to the Ruhrstadion whilst Mainz entertains Werder Bremen at the Stadion am Bruchweg.

Prepared by J. Davies
©Europa League News, 2010.
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Hertha Berlin rebounded from last week’s loss to Werder Bremen to play Mainz to a hard-fought draw at the Olympiastadion. With the result, the Berliners, who are at the bottom of the Bundesliga table, have made up five points in their fight to avoid relegation since the start of the Rückrunde, though that may not be enough to save Friedhelm Funkel’s tenure as manager. For Mainz, the dropped points are costly in their hunt for a spot in Europe, though they still hold down an impressive eighth spot in the Bundesliga table, level in points with Eintracht Frankfurt.

From the opening whistle, it was clear neither side were prepared to open themselves up in the attack. After a very tenuous opening Mainz went out in front 1-0 eight minutes shy of the break as from ten metres out, Aristide Bancé volleyed Ádám Szalai’s cross from the left past Berliner goalkeeper Jaroslav Drobný. The Berliners showed good attacking pulse in search of the equalizer but were unable to find the needed ingredient in the mix and went to the break down by one.

At the restart, the Berliners came out within an eye toward the goal and the fifty-first minute were rewarded for their efforts as Cícero edged on a corner at the near post before Adrián Ramos who headed in to finish. Berlin was not satisfied with the draw and continued to apply pressure. With seventeen minutes Bulgarian international Valeri Domovchiyski entered for the Berliners but despite their many efforts they could not break through and the match concluded as a 1-1 draw, honours even.

Hertha Berlin returns to play on Thursday against Benfica in Europa League play before visiting Freiburg on Sunday in a crucial relegation battle, whilst Mainz welcome VfL Bochum to the Stadion am Bruchweg on Saturday.

Prepared by J. Davies
©Europa League News, 2010.
All rights reserved

Mainz continued its hunt for a spot in European football with a 1-0 defeat of Borussia Mönchengladbach at Stadion am Bruchweg. With the victory, Mainz climbs to seventh in the Bundesliga table, whilst ‘Gladbach are in a three-way tie with Köln and defending champions Wolfsburg at the thirteenth spot.

Coming off last weeks disheartening loss to Bayern München, Thomas Tuchel’s side was anxious to keep their undefeated run this campaign intact. However, Borussia who showed the greater attacking vision for much of the day, starting with Heinz Müller’s stop of a Raúl Bobadilla effort shy of five minutes. The enterprising attacker missed an excellent opportunity at the quarter-hour when he circumvented the keeper but sent his subsequent effort into the side netting. Mainz was suggesting little of attacking threat until three minutes shy of the break when they scored the eventual winner. Coming via a corner from the left, Malik Fathi who recently arrived on-loan from Spartak Moskva, powerfully headed the ball at the near post that ‘keeper Logan Bailly dove to stop, sending if off the cross. Dropping just in front of the line, Marco Reus mishit the ball with Bo Svensson quickly capitalizing against his former side and sending it to the bottom right corner of the net from a metre out.

Die Fohlen were clearly showing greater attacking intent against their patient hosts but were unable to complete the task once inside the final third. Searching for the leveller, Michael Frontzeck called up Rob Friend, Patrick Herrmann and Fabian Bäcker in the final half-hour but none had the needed touch. Continuing to pressure their hosts, at the seventy-eighth, minute Marco Reus was in prime position to level but from twelve metres, he pushed his effort wide of the far right post. Mainz, behind the supporter of their supporters in full song, continued to follow a tactically perfect plan and calmly absorbed VfL’s pressure and after three minutes of added-time, claimed the full three points with a 1-0 victory.

Borussia Mönchengladbach returns to play Friday evening as they welcome Nürnberg in what will surely be a heated match, whilst Mainz travels to the capital to face Hertha Berlin at the Olympiastadion the following day.

Prepared by J. Davies
©Europa League News, 2010.
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Mainz ended its six-match win-less drought with a 1-0 defeat of free-falling Hannover 96 at Stadion am Bruchweg. With the result Mainz climb to eighth in the Bundesliga table, whilst 96’s relegation woes continue as they sit at the sixteenth spot.

Opening the Rückrunde with a costly loss to Hertha Berlin, in a winless run of seven encounters, new Hannover manager Mirko Slomka knew his side were in dire need of a win. However, at the fourth minute André Schürrle took advantage of a poor pass by Hannover defender Ján Ďurica before making his way down the left and sending his effort in past goalkeeper Florian Fromlowitz to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. Die Roten, nary a menacing attack to note, were fortunate to escape a worse margin as Florian Fromlowitz foiled Ádám Szalai a few minutes shy of the half-hour after he was sprung free by Slovakian international Miroslav Karhan. Hannover seemed more inclined to button down the match rather than attack and Mainz continued to control the run of play. After a few modest efforts came and went unyielding for the hosts, Hannover came within a hushed whisper of levelling with twenty-three minutes remaining Jan Bruggink’s corner was nodded just wide by Mike Hanke. Failing that effort, Mainz confidently ground the match down and earned the full three points with the win.

Both sides return to play next Saturday as Hannover 96 welcomes Nürnberg to the Niedersachsenstadion in a crucial relegation battle, whilst Mainz travels to face Bayern München.

Prepared by J. Davies
©Europa League News, 2010.
All rights reserved