RB Leipzig fall to 2-0 defeat in Mainz

Defeat in Mainz!

RBL tried to put Mainz under pressure from the outset with a lot of possession-based football. The hosts made things difficult for Leipzig in their first game under new head coach Jan Siewert, closing down spaces quickly and keeping things tight at the back. RBL kept plugging away, but we lacked pace and precision in the face of the Zerofivers’ defensive set-up.

Leipzig showed how dangerous they can be in the 22nd minute. Xavi won the ball back in midfield and played Christoph Baumgartner through on goal, but Robin Zentner did just enough to prevent the Austrian from scoring. Baumi had another good chance shortly afterwards, but his shot from range went over the bar. The hosts had their first real opportunity in the 44th minute, but Marco Richter’s effort was comfortably off-target.

The second half was a much more open, with Mainz looking to be more positive. Lee Jae-sung tried to bend one into the top corner, but it was comfortable in the end for Janis Blaswich (47′). His opposite number had to pull a save out of the top drawer in the 58th minute, as he managed to parry Xavi’s half volley away from his bottom corner. Mainz had the next big chance of the game through Dominik Kohr, who fired just wide after a quick counterattack in the 66th minute.

The hosts continued to grow into the game and eventually got their reward as Lee headed home from close range in the 76th minute. It didn’t take long for them to inflict more misery on RBL, with Leandro Barreiro doubling the Zerofivers’ lead four minutes later. The scoreline remained 2-0 until the final whistle.

Bundesliga | 1. FSV Mainz 05 – RB Leipzig

LINE-UPS

M05: Zentner (C)- van den Berg, Leitsch, Guilavogui (16′ da Costa) – Caci, Kohr (68′ Krauß), Barreiro, Fernandes – Lee (90+2′ Papela), Richter (68′ Barkok), Onisiw (90+2′ Ajorque)

RBL: Blaswich – Castello Jr., Klostermann (82′ Poulsen), Simakan – Henrichs, Raum, Schlager, Kampl (C, 82′ Haidara) – Baumgartner (67′ Werner), Xavi (82′ Forsberg), Openda (67′ Sesko)

M05 bench: Batz, Mwene, Mamutovic

RBL bench: Gulacsi, Lenz, Seiwald, Carvalho

GOALS

1-0 Lee (76′), 2-0 Barreiro (80′)

YELLOW CARDS

Caci (39′), Barkok (88′), van den Berg (90′) | Klostermann (51′)

OFFICIALS

Referee: Bastian Dankert (Rostock)

First assistant: Rene Rohde (Rostock)

Second assistant: Marcel Unger (Tangstedt)

Fourth official: Max Burda (Berlin)

Video assistant: Daniel Siebert (Berlin)

7th minute: RBL with the lion’s share of possession

RBL try to get forward with pace from the outset. Mainz are sitting back for the moment and look very tidy defensively. Nothing comes from a Xavi corner. It’s looking like we’re going to have to be patient today.

14th minute: The hosts keep things solid

Mainz haven’t been giving Leipzig much time or space on the ball. The game is mostly being played in the hosts’ half, but we haven’t quite managed to create anything clear-cut.

20th minute: Baumgartner goes close

Now RBL break quickly on the counter! The boys win the ball back in midfield and get the ball up the pitch. Xavi plays ChristophBaumgartner through, who wrestles off a Mainz defender and gets a shot away. RobinZentner is in the right place at the right time and gets enough on Baumi’s effort to stop it from going in.

28th minute: “Baumi” has a go from range

RBL keep the pressure on Mainz! KevinKampl backheels the ball to Baumgartner and the Austrian lets fly, but his effort sails over the bar.

33rd minute: Still no threat from Mainz

RBL are continuing to try and find some space in the hosts’ half. We’re also keeping things tight at the back, with Janis Blaswich being largely untroubled so far.

40th minute: Danger after a corner

Leipzig turn up the heat again just before the break. Raum puts in a threatening corner and the ball falls to XaverSchlager on the edge of the box. His shot is blocked before the referee blows his whistle for offside.

44th minute: Chance for Richter

The first real threat to RBL’s goal comes as MarcoRichter has a go from range, but his shot is comfortably off target.

47th minute: Mainz start brightly

Mainz are on the ball early in the second half and manage to find some space. Lee tries to curl one into the top corner from about 20 metres out, but it’s a comfortable save for Blaswich.

55th minute: Both sides on the attack

The pace has picked up considerably since the start of the second half. The Zerofivers are going forward with more confidence, so RBL need to stay alert.

58th minute: Xavi denied by Zentner

RBL have their best chance of the second half so far with another effort from range. The ball bounces over to Xavi, who strikes it on the half volley. It’s sailing into the bottom corner, but Zentner gets there just in time to parry it away strongly.

66th minute: Mainz break on the counter

RBL think they’ve won a corner, but the referee actually awards a goal kick. Mainz take advantage of the confusion and counterattack with pace. KarimOnisiwo has the ball in our box and lays it off to DominikKohr, whose shot goes just wide.

74th minute: Nervy moment for Leipzig

Mainz have fully switched on now. Lee tries to latch onto a ball in the RBL box, but he can’t quite get a boot to it.

76th minute: Lee heads Mainz in front

Mainz have the reward for their efforts. Onisiwo crosses the ball in to Lee, who heads home from close range to put the Zerofivers 1-0 up.

80th minute: Barreiro doubles the hosts’ lead

Mainz aren’t done there. They keep the pressure on RBL after a corner and Leandro Barreiro manages to put the ball in the back of the net. The flag is up initially, but the goal is awarded after a VAR check.