Mainz picked up a point in their first Bundesliga game of 2023 at the Mercedes-Benz Arena on Saturday afternoon. Serhou Guirassy gave Stuttgart the lead against the run of play in the 36th minute, before Marcus Ingvartsen levelled from the spot just four minutes later after a foul on Leandro Barreiro (40’).
Bo Svensson utilised his familiar 5-3-2 system and he made four changes from the side that faced Frankfurt before the winter break. Finn Dahmen, Anthony Caci, Aymen Barkok and Marcus Ingvartsen came in for Robin Zentner, Stefan Bell, Anton Stach and Jonathan Burkardt.
Mainz work their way into the contest
The home side got off to the better start and Silas tested Finn Dahmen with a powerful shot in the early stages (4’). The Zerofivers initially found it difficult to play their way out of their own half but they worked their way into the contest. Barreiro had Mainz’s first real opportunity of the game after a quarter of an hour but his powerful effort from 25 yards just whistled past the post (15’).
A tight contest ensued but FSV managed to fashion some decent opportunities. Barkok struck another sweet effort from range but Florian Müller palmed it away for a corner with a strong hand (25’). Kohr then headed the subsequent corner over the goal (26’).
Two goals in the latter stages of the half
Despite some decent chances for Svensson’s side, it was the hosts that took the lead. Mainz failed to clear their lines on the edge of the area and the ball fell to Guirassy, who found himself one-on-one with Dahmen. The striker’s powerful effort was well dealt with by the goalkeeper and it looked as though the danger was averted (35’). FSV, however, once again failed to deal with the loose ball and Guirassy found himself in on goal for a second time. The Guinea international remained cool on this occasion and flicked it past Dahmen to give his side a 1-0 lead. (36’).
Mainz got themselves back into the contest just four minutes later when Barreiro was fouled in the penalty area by Naouirou Ahamada. After a quick check, Felix Brych pointed to the spot and Marcus Ingvartsen stepped up. The Dane kept a cool head and made no mistake as he slotted it past Müller to put his side back on level terms (40’).
Both sides hit the woodwork
Stuttgart started the second half in the same manner that they started the first and Tiago Tomas came agonisingly close to getting on the end of a Guirassy cross in the early stages (48’). Anthony Caci then crucially blocked Waldemar Anton’s effort on the goal line and Guirassy put the rebound wide of the goal (53’). Barkok then had yet another powerful shot from range but his effort struck the crossbar (56’).
It was then Stuttgart’s turn to hit the woodwork when Guirassy rattled the crossbar with his shot on the edge of the area (60’). A few minutes later, Anton’s header could have proved dangerous but it hit his own man and didn’t threaten the goal (67’). Five minutes later, Mainz won a free kick in a dangerous position on the edge of the area but Aarón put his effort into the wall (72’).
Neither side find the winner
Both sides had a chance in the closing stages. Silvan Widmer headed a corner into a dangerous position in front of Stuttgart’s goal (84’), before Vagnoman had a glorious chance for the hosts at the opposite end. The defender, however, somehow fired his effort from close-range over the crossbar. Although both sides will rue their missed opportunities, a 1-1 draw was ultimately a fair reflection of the contest.
Back in action in the week
Mainz are back in action in midweek when they are set to take on Borussia Dortmund at the MEWA ARENA (Wednesday, 25th January, 18:30 CET). They will then host VfL Bochum three days later (Saturday, 28th January, 15:30 CET).