Mainz out of the bottom three with priceless Hoffenheim win

Hoffenheim 1-5 Mainz
Goals: 0-1 Öztunali (33'), 0-2 Kaderabek (o.g. 52'), 0-3 Kunde (62'), 1-3 Kramaric (82'), 1-4 Boetius (90'), 1-5 Kunde (90'+3)
Red card: Baku (45'+2)

Beierlorzer lost his job as Cologne boss on the back of a 2-1 loss to Hoffenheim on Matchday 11, so knew exactly what to expect in Sinsheim. Jürgen Locadia forced a save from Mainz goalkeeper Robin Zentner inside four minutes and Pavel Kaderabek headed over moments later as Hoffenheim monopolised possession in the early exchanges. Zentner was beaten in the 14th minute, but Pierre Kunde was on hand to clear Sebastian Rudy's low strike off the line. The deadlock was broken shortly past the half-hour mark, though it was Mainz who struck first. Karim Onisiwo did well to control Ridle Baku's loose pass, before playing in Levin Öztunali to thunder beyond Oliver Baumann. Locadia sent another presentable opportunity wide for the hosts, who went in at the break a goal down but a man to the good after Baku was sent off for recklessly scything down Rudy on halfway in first-half added time.

Locadia was off cue once more with Hoffenheim's first chance of note in the second half, and was made to pay in the 52nd minute when Jerry St. Juste scampered forward from inside his own half and swung in a devilish cross that evaded the diving Baumann and was inadvertently turned into the empty net by a contorted Kaderabek. Zentner then produced a stunning diving save to prevent teammate Kunde's header from reducing the arrears. The Cameroon international did get on the scoresheet soon after, and at the right end, with a fine strike under Baumann following an incisive breakaway involving Jean-Paul Boetius and Onisiwo. Substitute Andrej Kramaric dug out a neat finish from Christoph Baumgartner's deflected cross-shot to give Hoffenheim hope going into the final seven minutes of normal time, but Boetius and Kunde scored late on to give the scoreline an emphatic gloss and lift Mainz out of the relegation zone.

• Hoffenheim had won their last five Bundesliga games. They have never won six consecutive top-flight matches.
• Kaderabek's own goal was Hoffenheim's first of 2019.
• Mainz last scored three or more away goals in a game against Greuther Fürth in January 2013.
• The Hoffenheim result is the 05ers' second-biggest away win in their Bundesliga history, after a 6-2 triumph in Bochum in 2005.
• Kunde's first Bundesliga goals fell on his 39th top-flight appearance
• Öztunali scored his first goal of the season against Beierlorzer on Matchday 9. He scored his second for the former Cologne coach.
• Kramaric scored his third goal in as many games this season, and eighth substitute strike - a Hoffenheim record.

Watch: Kunde: “It’s a new era, a new beginning”

Hoffenheim: Baumann – Posch (Stafylidis 78'), Hübner (Baumgartner 55'), Akpoguma (Kramaric 46') - Kaderabek, Rudy, Vogt (c), Grillitsch, Skov – Bebou, Locadia
Unused subs: Pentke, Brenet, Bicakcic, Rupp, Samsssekou, Zulj
Out: Adamyan (thigh), Belfodil (knee), Geiger (thigh), Nordtveit (bruised ribs), Ochs (ankle), Zuber (foot)
Coach: Alfred Schreuder

Mainz: Zentner - Baku, St. Juste, Niakhate (c), Martin - Fernandes, Kunde, Öztunali – Boetius – Onisiwo (Awoniyi 75'), Quaison (Latza 87')
Unused subs: Müller, Maxim, Brosinski, Szalai, Burkhardt, Barreiro, Hack
Out: Bell (ankle), Ji (knee), Mateta (knee), Mwene (knock)
Coach: Achim Beierlorzer

Watch: Locadia: “We didn’t deserve the win today”