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Series torn: Against Mainz, the otherwise so successful combination game did not work
Photo: Alex Grimm/Getty Images
FSV Mainz 05 has stopped Bayer Leverkusen's impressive winning streak.
At the start of the 23rd match day of the Bundesliga, the 05ers inflicted the first defeat of the year on the guests at 3:2 (0:1) and are now even involved in the fight for international starting places.
In front of 10,000 spectators, top scorer Patrik Schick (35th minute) and Joker Lucas Alario (74th) gave the guests the lead twice, but Aarón Martín (57th), Jean-Paul Boetius (84th) and Marcus Ingvartsen (88th). ) turned the game in favor of the 05ers, who equaled their club record from 2009 under coach Thomas Tuchel with their fifth home win in a row.
The visitors had the first chance.
Kerem Demirbay tested Mainz goalkeeper Robin Zentner in the 6th minute.
However, the Mainzers then made the game and the snappier impression.
Bayer struggled to find space for the combination game that was so successful this season.
The hosts are different.
Anton Stach (13th) and Silvan Widmer (16th) missed shots at a good Lukáš Hrádecký, who made a strong save.
Mainz went into the game without any personnel changes.
Coach Bo Svensson trusted the same starting XI as in the previous week in the 1-1 draw in Freiburg.
Bayer coach Gerardo Seoane made a change: defender Jonathan Tah returned after surviving an infection and replaced the injured Mitchel Bakker.
Mainz stayed tuned
Mainz were close to the lead in the first half, but even the biggest chance after half an hour didn't lead to success.
Jonathan Burkhard put the ball clear in front of Hrádecký to his strike partner Karim Onisiwo, but the Austrian was blocked decisively.
Leverkusen's top scorer Patrik Schick did better: The Czech tried a shot from about 20 meters and was lucky that FSV captain Moussa Niakhaté deflected the ball from goalkeeper Zentner.
It was the first goal Mainz conceded at home since November 21 in the 1-1 draw against 1. FC Köln.
After that, the 05er had won four home games in a row to zero.
Schick had to be replaced injured shortly after the restart.
He was replaced by Lucas Alario (48'), who then watched a short time later as Mainz took control of the game again: Martín equalized with a free-kick worth seeing.
The supposed opening goal by Onisiwo was withdrawn a little later by referee Benjamin Cortus after video evidence (63.) – Alario's goal on the other side after a nice Bayer combination counted.
But Mainz stayed on and substitute Jean-Paul Boëtius flicked the ball from the edge of the box into the far corner to equalize 2-2.
The Svensson team showed character and with a lot of will, Joker Marcus Ingvartsen poked the ball through the Bayer defense to lead 3:2.
ok/dpa