Bundesliga
Both Borussia Mönchengladbach and Mainz edged another step closer to safety on Sunday as goals from Breel Embolo and Karim Onisiwo cancelled each other out, while Yann Sommer produced a series of astonishing saves in a 1-1 draw to round out the Matchday 28 calendar.
Gladbach 1-1 Mainz
Goals: 1-0 Embolo 33' (assist: Neuhaus), 1-1 Onisiwo 73' (assist: Lee)
Both teams may be in the relative security of mid-table, but in terms of points they are still rather too close to the relegation zone for comfort. As a result the match began with an absorbing intensity, with Embolo heading over from Lars Stindl’s cross inside five minutes before Anton Stach replied with a long-range effort that tickled the roof of the net, and Marcus Ingvartsen warmed Yann Sommer’s palms with a stinging drive from 20 yards. It was the hosts who edged ahead, however, when Embolo finished a sweeping team move after exchanging passes with Florian Neuhaus to give Gladbach the lead at the break.
Mainz brought on nine-goal top scorer Jonathan Burkardt at the interval in a bid to turn the match around and the Germany U21 international very nearly had an instant impact. After Leandro Barreiro hit the post following a driving run from midfield, Burkardt was first to the rebound, only to see his goal-bound effort brilliantly saved by Sommer. The custodian was called into action again moments later following a neat turn and shot from Karim Onisiwo as the visitors pushed for a leveller. That opened up chances for the home side on the counter, but they lacked precision with the final ball to be able to score a decisive second goal. Gladbach were eventually punished for such wastefulness when Onisiwi hit an unstoppable drive into the bottom corner, and the Foals needed another scarcely believable stop from Sommer in the last minute to prevent Burkardt snatching a winner from what was, ultimately, a deserved draw.
Watch: Sommer: "Mainz could have won"
Gladbach: Sommer (c) - Ginter, Elvedi, Beyer - Lainer (Scally 87'), Neuhaus (Kramer 80'), Kone (Benes 87'), Bensebaini - Plea, Stindl (Noß 63') - Embolo
Unused subs: Sippel, Doucoure, Herrmann, Bennetts, Gaal
Out: Friedrich (match fitness), Hofmann (muscular), Jantschke (not included), Netz (muscular), Thuram (groin)
Coach: Adi Hütter
Mainz: Zentner - Bell, Hack, Niakhate (c) - Widmer, Barreiro, Stach (Stöger 76'), Martin - Boetius - Onisiwo, Ingvartsen (Burkardt 46')
Unused subs: Dahmen, Brosinski, Lucoqui, Nemeth, Nebel, Bobzien, Lee
Out: Burgzorg (heart), Kohr (suspended), St. Juste (shoulder)
Coach: Bo Svensson
Watch: Onisiwo: "We turned things around in the second half"