Bundesliga News

Germany: Bundesliga
FT
1 - 2
(1 - 1)
Gladbach
Mainz 05
L. Stindl (26)
K. Onisiwo (10), K. Stöger (86)

15.30 Kickoffs:
More Stöger late heroics lift Mainz over Gladbach 2-1

By Peter Weis   @PeterVicey

Gladbach ultras find more cause to be displeased with departing trainer Marco Rose after the foals dropped another match to a regional adversary on Saturday. 

Bo Svensson's FSV Mainz 05 supplied a dramatic late goal for the second consecutive week, gaining a crucial three points for the relegation fight. 
Kevin Stöger.
Kevin Stöger.Photo: Jeollo/VfB-exklusiv.de/CC-by-SA 3.0
Pfälzer head-coach Bo Svensson fielded the exact same XI in the exact same formation for the third successive fixture in a highly-anticipated tactical showdown with former Mainzer teammate Marco Rose. The Borussia Mönchengladbach trainer, who this week finally announced that he would be departing for Dortmund at the end of the season, also refrained from changing a squad he's recently been accused of over-rotating.


The talent disparity between the two teams was apparent early, but the Rheinhessen managed to claim the opening goal against the run of play. Karim Onisiwo collected a blind long-ball in the 10th. Taking advantage of a defensive mistake from BMG defender Matthias Ginter, he banged home with a little help from the inside of the post. Gladbach had a spot kick disallowed via a VAR review shortly thereafter.

Rose's Gladbach enjoyed the better share of chances for the duration of the half. Disciplined defending from Mainz and good counter chances ensured that the match remained on a knife's edge. Lars Stindl equalized in the 26th after some fine predatory work from Valentino Lazaro and Jonas Hofmann. A string of misses by the NRW-hosts at the end of the half kept the score level at 1-1.

Rose introduced Denis Zakaria for Christoph Kramer at the half, but the move produced nothing of note. The flow of the match actually flattened significantly. A draw seemed inevitable. Just when it appeared as if the spoils would be shared, however, one of Svensson's substitutions again furnished some late heroics. Stefan Lainer failed to clear a Danny da Costa cross in the 88th. Kevin Stöger happily fired home off the volley.

Stöger's second decisive goal in as many weeks places the Nullfünfter one point adrift of the relegation playoff spot. Bielefeld, who still have a game at hand, occupy 16th place with 18 points to Mainz's 17. Rose's team slide to 8th place ahead of a tough match against Manchester City midweek and a huge test vs. Leipzig next weekend.

Elsewhere in the Bundesliga's 15:30 kickoffs, VfB Stuttgart finally got back to winning ways with a 1-0 away victory over 1. FC Köln. In another tight fixture decided by a single goal, Union Berlin snuck by SC Freiburg to also attain a much-needed 1-0 win.


In the time slot's marquee matchup, the Bundesliga's "team of the moment" prevailed against German giants FC Bayern München. Thanks in large part to an excellent match from midfielder Amin Younes, Eintracht Frankfurt defeated Hansi Flick's FCB 2-1.


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