PLAYER RATINGS | Mainz 0-1 Borussia Mönchengladbach – The Foals go five unbeaten in the Bundesliga | OneFootball

Mainz began life after Bo Henriksen at home to Borussia Mönchengladbach to kick off Matchday 13 in the Bundesliga. Second-team coach Benjamin Hoffman took the reins in the dugout as Mainz are yet to appoint a successor the popular Henriksen.

The home side went into this one at the foot of the table, having failed to win a game at home since their 2-0 victory over St Pauli in February. Gladbach arrived in good form despite being dumped out of the DFB Pokal at home to St. Pauli in midweek; a four-game unbeaten run in the league has seen them climb the table under now permanent head coach Eugen Polanski.

Hoffman made a total of seven changes to Henriksen’s last Mainz team, which fell to a 4-0 defeat at Freiburg last week. The Foals made three changes, with Rocco Reitz returning as captain after starting Tuesday’s cup tie on the bench.

After a slow start in which Mainz enjoyed most of the possession, the first real chance fell invitingly to Jens Castrop six yards from goal, only for his effort to be cleared off the line by Maxim Leitsch. From the resulting corner, Gladbach thought they had taken the lead when Leitsch’s attempted headed clearance found its way past Daniel Batz. The goal would, however, be disallowed after VAR spotted the slightest handball in the buildup.

After the teams returned for the second half still goalless, Nelson Weiper had a great chance to put the home side in front when he was played through on goal by Kaishu Sano. His effort, however, was fired straight at Moritz Nicolas – an easy save for the German in the end.

Castrop had a second great chance pretty much from the penalty spot, this time his effort foiled by a world class save from Batz. In a situation remarkably similar to the first half, Gladbach once again had the ball in the net from the resulting corner, only this time the goal stood. Haris Tabaković’s header bounced off the back of Danny Da Costa and over Batz in the Mainz goal.

Weiper had his and Mainz’s best chance of the game when he headed wide from a free header after a pinpoint Jae-sung Lee cross.

Batz again made a brilliant save to deny Shuto Machino from the edge of the box after an excellent lay off from Tabaković. Jae-sung Lee was then denied at the other end by a good block from Kevin Diks after the Korean was set up after some excellent work from Sano.

Gladbach saw out the rest of the game with relative ease, deserved winners after dominating at times, especially in the first half. Their renaissance and rise up the Bundesliga table under Polanski continues. Mainz will be disappointed to come away from this one with nothing, especially considering Nelson Weiper’s two great missed chances. Whether a change in head coach will have similar effects to their opponents tonight remains to be seen. For now, they look like a team bereft of confidence and struggling at both ends of the pitch at the moment.

Mainz 0-1 Borussia Mönchengladbach Player Ratings

Mainz: Daniel Batz (8) – Danny Da Costa (5), Andreas Hanche-Olsen (6), Maxim Leitsch (6) – Silvan Widmer (6), Nadiem Amiri (6), Jae-sung Lee (6), Kaishu Sano (8), Phillipp Mwene (5) – Fabio Moreno Fell (6), Nelson Weiper (5)

Others: Arnaud Nordin (6), Benedict Hollerbach (5), Nikolas Konrad Veratschnig (6), Sota Kawasaki (-)

Borussia Mönchengladbach: Moritz Nicolas (6) – Joe Scally (6), Nico Elvedi (7), Kevin Diks (6) – Jens Castrop (6), Rocco Reitz (7), Yannik Engelhardt (6), Giovanni Reyna (6), Luca Netz (6) – Shuto Machino (6), Haris Tabaković (7)

Others: Kevin Stöger (6), Grant-Leon Ranos (6), Marvin Friedrich (-)

GGFN Player of the Match: Kaishu Sano (8)

This award could’ve easily gone to any one of Daniel Batz, Rocco Reitz, or Kaishu Sano. Put simply, without Batz, Gladbach would almost certainly have won this game by at least three goals rather than one. Reitz was everywhere, controlled the game, and led his team well as captain.

However, Sano probably goes a little under the radar, but he was excellent tonight. He should have had an assist for Nelson Weiper early in the first half after an outstanding through ball. Sano created three chances, completed 14 ball recoveries, and won 70% of his duels, all match highs. (via Fotmob).

GGFN | Harry Good