Bundesliga
Mainz's charge up the Bundesliga standings continued apace as Leandro Barreiro - on his 100th Bundesliga appearance - netted the only goal of the game against a Hoffenheim side who dropped further into relegation trouble following their latest loss.
Mainz 1-0 Hoffenheim
Goals: 1-0 Barreiro 33'
Mainz have been flying under Bo Svensson of late and the 05ers took all of the confidence that three wins on the bounce brings into this game. Knowing another victory in that sequence would keep them in the hunt for a European spot, the hosts soon set about their troubled opponents. Ludovic Ajorque and Barreiro provided a constant threat throughout the opening 45 minutes, with the pair combining to create the game’s first chance. On that occasion, the 6’5” French forward saw a shot deflected wide after Barreiro’s initial effort was saved by Oliver Baumann. The Hoffenheim goalkeeper again showed sharp reflexes when parrying out Stefan Bell’s close-range volley from a corner, but Barreiro’s subsequent strike into the ground from the follow up found the corner of the net to put Mainz ahead.
Without a win in their previous 13 games, the visitors were keen to turn a corner under recently appointed coach Pellegrino Matarazzo. They began the second half well, Dennis Geiger drawing a solid stop from Robin Zentner. Matarazzo’s steady flow of substitutes kept the hosts guessing but, try as they might, the Sinsheimers couldn’t gain a solid foothold in the contest. As the half progressed, Marcus Ingvartsen looked to have decided matters for Mainz, however the Dane’s effort was ruled out for offside. At the other end, Ihlas Bebou and Munas Dabbur both spurned presentable chances but it was the 05ers who would finish the contest the stronger of the teams. Seventeen-year-old striker Nelson Weiper might have added some gloss to the Mainz scoreline had he converted one of two opportunities late on, but in the end, those misses wouldn't matter to a side that have now won five of their last six games.
Mainz: Zentner (c) - Hanche-Olsen, Bell, Fernandes - da Costa (Widmer 73'), Barreiro, Kohr (Stach 46'), Caci - Lee (Weiper 84') - Ingvartsen (Barkok 73'), Ajorque (Hack 90'+4)
Unused subs: Dahmen, Martin, Leitsch, Burgzorg
Out: Burkardt (knee), Onisiwo (knee)
Coach: Bo Svensson
Hoffenheim: Baumann (c) - Kabak, Vogt, Akpoguma (Skov 69') - Kaderabek, Geiger (Becker 69'), Delaney (Rudy 46'), Angelino - Baumgartner - Dolberg (Dabbur 59'), Kramaric (Bebou 59')
Unused subs: Philipp, Bicakcic, Brooks, Tohumcu
Out: Bischof (ankle), Bruun Larsen (groin), Che (knee), Prömel (ankle), Stiller (pelvis)
Coach: Pellegrino Matarazzo