Borussia Monchengladbach suffered their second loss from two Bundesliga games this season, as they fell 2 – 1 at home to Mainz in a match which they arguably dominated.
Possession was skewed in The Foals favour, but Mainz’s quick counter attacks and clinical finishing undermined the home side, as Mainz struck through Jairo Samperio and Christian Clemens either side of Patrick Herrmann’s equaliser.
The result leaves Borussia Monchengladbach rooted to the foot of the Bundesliga table while Mainz climb to eighth after their first win of the season.
Borussia Monchengladbach
Yann Sommer – 6: With little he could do for either goal, albeit beaten at the near post for the winner, Sommer had a rather quiet game, never being seriously tested. Needs to work on marshaling his defence, who sold him short for the first Mainz goal.
Julian Korb – 5: Replacing Andreas Christensen at fullback, the defender was badly found out for ball watching as Jairo, who had ghosted in behind Korb, blazed home for the first goal. Never fully settled, Korb struggled to gain a foothold throughout in a defensive unit that was put under significant pressure.
Marvin Schulz – 5.5: Schulz and Gladbach’s defense as a whole struggled to cope when Mainz attacked. Not totally at fault for either goal, Schulz was better than last weekend, but not by a great deal.
Tony Jantschke – 6: Similar to Schulz, Tony Jantschke had little he could have done for either goal, but still failed to work his way into the game to any degree. A consistent but unremarkable performance, Jantschke is one of the more senior figures in a defence that needs grounding.
Oscar Wendt – 5.5: Wendt played strongly down the left, getting forward often to cross, but his delivery lacked its usual consistency and accuracy, with a couple of crosses easily picked out and cleared. Was found wanting as Clemens broke free to cross for the first goal.
Ibrahima Traore – 6: Traore played well, with his pace injections troubling the Mainz defence at times, and was unlucky to have a goal ruled out for an offside Thorgan Hazard. Had his chances but failed to take them, and will need to be more clinical in the future.
Lars Stindl – 6.5: Working a two-man pivot with Granit Xhaka, Stindl’s passing was on point as usual. However, he struggled to assert himself for the entirety of his 81 minutes, despite providing the assist for Patrick Hermann’s goal with a tidy flick-on.
Granit Xhaka – 6.5: The Swiss played his normal, metronome passing game in midfield, completing 107 passes, helping dominate the centre of the pitch, but failed to really open up Mainz.
Patrick Herrmann – 7.5: Dangerous down the wing throughout, and scorer of a fine equaliser for the Foals, Herrmann continued to show why he is in the side, but will regret shooting high over the goal from inside the box, just after the hour mark.
Thorgan Hazard – 5.5: Flashes of danger throughout, but offside for a goal, and with poor delivery, this was a sub-par performance for the Belgian youngster. Not an out and out striker.
Raffael – 5.5: Largely anonymous throughout, the centre-forward failed to create much in the way of chances in his 90 minutes, however did win 17 tackles, an impressive stat for a forward, and helping to instigate the press.
Mainz 05:
Loris Karius – 6.5: Not called up too many times, Karius made a couple of key saves and did well to draw a foul from an onrushing Hazard earlier in the match. Hard to fault for Hermann’s goal because of how well taken it was, but was beaten a couple of times only for shots to go wide instead.
Daniel Brosinski – 6.5: Matched up against Herrmann, Brosinksi performed admirably without been spectacular, as he helped to mostly contain the wide man. Herrmann’s goal only came about when the winger drifted inside and across the pitch, negating the presence of Brosinski.
Niko Bungert – 6.5: Calm and controlled for most of the match, however could have done better to block Herrmann’s goal. Occasionally beaten for pace by runners, and lucky not to have been exposed by better finishing.
Stefan Bell – 6.5: Similar to Bungert, Bell maybe could have thrown more body behind Patrick Herrmman’s swivel and shot, however was reasonably composed and helped to marshal his side well against the Gladbach pressure.
Joo-Ho Park – 7: Faced with the pace of Ibrahima Traore, Park’s task was never going to be easy, but did well, winning 13 duels throughout the match and utilising the ball well whenever he won it, in accordance with the teams game plan.
Julian Baumgartlinger – 8: The central midfielder worked well to win the ball throughout the match, and used it quickly, dishing forward to the Mainz forwards. A fine display in the middle of the park against a stronger team from him and Fabian Frei.
Fabian Frei – 8: Alongside Baumgartlinger, Frei worked well to execute Mainz’ game plan of quick transitions of possession, to surprise Lucien Favre’s side on the break. His distribution to the forwards and wide midfielders was a key to his side’s success in this match.
Christian Clemens – 8: Clemens has started this season strongly, and after setting up the Mainz opener, Clemens only attempt on goal was the match-winner, to cap off a strong display from out wide.
Yunus Malli – 6.5: The former Monchengladbach youngster was largely peripheral for most of the match, but nearly gave the visitors an early lead in the 12th minute when he fired against Yann Sommer’s post. Didn’t see as much of the ball as many of his teammates, which arguably had an effect on his influence.
Jairo Sampeiro – 7: A fantastic run in behind the defence before expertly finishing the first goal gave this performance some shine, but Jairo also nearly set up Frei, and was a general menace whenever he saw the ball.
Yoshinori Muto – 6.5: The Japanese international made his Bundesliga debut, and while looking promising, has a frustrating time in goal, missing two gilt-edged chances that could have sealed the match.
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