Strong first-half performance | Nkunku scores only goal of the game in 28th minute | Silva hits woodwork

Just a few days after the Bundesliga season came to its conclusion, FSV Mainz are pleased to announce the signing of Maxim Leitsch from VfL Bochum. The 24-year-old central defender worked his way through the ranks at VfL and is now an established Bundesliga player. He made a total of 93 appearances for Bochum in all competitions, including 19 in the top flight (2 goals, 1 assist) and he became a rock at the back for the club. Leitsch also has experience on the international stage and was selected for Germany at the U18, U19 and U21 levels. The 24-year-old has signed for Mainz until 2026 for an undisclosed fee.

“Leaving Union is very difficult for me. I found my footballing home here at the age of eleven and was part of this club for seven years. I am grateful to those responsible for the trust they have placed in me and wish 1. FC Union Berlin all the best for the coming season. At KAS Eupen, I now have the opportunity to further show myself with regular playing time,” added Moser.

VfL Wolfsburg registered their first back-to-back wins and their second away success of the season on Saturday afternoon, beating 1. FSV Mainz 05 3-0. Patrick Wimmer’s first goal for VfL opened the scoring (33’), with Maximilian Arnold (70’) and Ridle Baku (83’) wrapping up the three points for Niko Kovac’s side in the second half in front of 26,750 spectators at the Mewa Arena.

But Casemiro’s effort saw the scoreline end level at 1-1 with Chelsea remaining unbeaten since Graham Potter took over from Thomas Tuchel last month.

Getting to the stadium

What a game! SV Werder Bremen beat Hertha BSC 4-2 (2-0). In the first half, the hosts were barely in the game. A brace from Marvin Ducksch (6’, 27’) put Werder firmly ahead, before Hertha stepped up a gear in the second half. Although Marvin Ducksch (51’) scored again and Mitchell Weiser (63’) increased the lead to 4-0, Hertha came back. Jessic Ngankam scored the first goal for the “Old Lady”, before Dodi Lukebakio converted from the penalty spot to make it 4-2 (79’). In the end, however, SVW were too solid in defence and Ole Werner’s side deserved to take three important points back home.

VfL Bochum 1848 is getting a new kit supplier: Mizuno, the well-established Japanese company, will be equipping all the Blue and Whites’ teams with technically sophisticated functional clothing from the 2022/23 season onwards. Not only does Mizuno have a long tradition of developing and marketing products for many sports, the company, which was founded in Osaka in 1906, has also had professional expertise in football since the 1950s.

Head coach Enrico Maaßen could rely on captain Jeffrey Gouweleeuw again, who returned to the team after serving his yellow card suspension. Renato Veiga was also given a start at left-back in place of the injured Iago, Daniel Caligiuri was absent due to a stomach bug.

It took precisely 31 seconds in the reverse fixture for the Fuggerstädter to take the lead through Mergim Berisha. This time, however, FCA’s goalscorer was absent due to injury, as was Frankfurt’s top scorer Randal Kolo Muani. The opening period was quite even, even though the home side were waiting ready to counter. The first scoring chance came for Augsburg, as Arne Maier’s left-footed shot from 15 yards landed in the arms of Kevin Trapp (10’).

In the following period, Frankfurt took more control of the game and quickly converted this superior phase into a goal. Aurélio Buta used the space on the right wing and drove into the penalty area, pulling the ball back, which Elvis Rexhbecaj deflected into his own net (25’). After the own goal, Maaßen’s players had to deal with more danger, as Daichi Kamada found himself in a dangerous position in front of Augsburg’s goal on two occasions (27’, 33’). FCA were dangerous shortly before the break, when Dion Beljo took the ball from Ermedin Demirović and took a shot on goal, but his attempt was deflected for a corner (45’).

Julian Baumgartlinger and Robert Gumny came out for the second half, with Arne Engels and the yellow-carded Veiga making way. After Demirović first failed to beat Trapp on the right-hand side (48’), the Bosnian scored the all-important equaliser in the 58th minute, in a very attractive manner. Demirović headed a long cross from Ruben Vargas into the bottom-right corner on the turn to score his eighth goal of the season.

“To be honest, I already saw myself as an important part of the team from the start of the season,” Mazraoui said in a recent interview with Az (as captured by @iMiaSanMia).