Mainz are still in the running for Champions league football next season as they beat Schalke 2-1 to kick-off Matchday 21 of the Bundesliga. They now sit in fifth equal on points with Schalke in fourth. This was Mainz’s third win in a row, after beating both Hannover and Borussia Mönchengladbach in their last two games.
French left-back Gaetan Bussmann gave Mainz the lead, in front of a crowd of 32,107 spectators, before Schalke’s new recruit Younes Belhanda scored an equaliser straight after half time. However Mainz won the game through captain Julian Baumgartlinger, who headed in the winning goal and his first in the Bundesliga, after 122 matches.
Bussmann’s half-volley
The game did not have that many chances, as both teams got the feel for each other, although they didn’t hold back when it came to hard challenges. Mainz made being solid in defence their priority and it frustrated Schalke.
The most impressive goal of the night came from Bussmann, who from a set piece, scored his first Bundesliga goal in a Mainz kit. The left-back latched onto the loose ball over twenty yards out and hit a low half-volley into the bottom right corner of the net. Schalke goalkeeper Ralf Fährmann was left with no chance.
Meyer shows great vision
31 seconds after half time, Schalke equalised through new recruit Belhanda after a clever pass from Germany under-21 international Max Meyer. Meyer couldn’t beat goalkeeper Loris Karius with his first attempt on goal, but then pulled the ball back to Belhanda to set up the goal. However, Mainz captain Baumgartlinger decided the game with his header in the 79th minute and things stayed that way till the final whistle.
Mainz are still in the running for Champions league football next season as they beat Schalke 2-1 to kick-off Matchday 21 of the Bundesliga. They now sit in fifth equal on points with Schalke in fourth. This was Mainz’s third win in a row, after beating both Hannover and Borussia Mönchengladbach in their last two games.
French left-back Gaetan Bussmann gave Mainz the lead, in front of a crowd of 32,107 spectators, before Schalke’s new recruit Younes Belhanda scored an equaliser straight after half time. However Mainz won the game through captain Julian Baumgartlinger, who headed in the winning goal and his first in the Bundesliga, after 122 matches.
Bussmann’s half-volley
The game did not have that many chances, as both teams got the feel for each other, although they didn’t hold back when it came to hard challenges. Mainz made being solid in defence their priority and it frustrated Schalke.
The most impressive goal of the night came from Bussmann, who from a set piece, scored his first Bundesliga goal in a Mainz kit. The left-back latched onto the loose ball over twenty yards out and hit a low half-volley into the bottom right corner of the net. Schalke goalkeeper Ralf Fährmann was left with no chance.
Meyer shows great vision
31 seconds after half time, Schalke equalised through new recruit Belhanda after a clever pass from Germany under-21 international Max Meyer. Meyer couldn’t beat goalkeeper Loris Karius with his first attempt on goal, but then pulled the ball back to Belhanda to set up the goal. However, Mainz captain Baumgartlinger decided the game with his header in the 79th minute and things stayed that way till the final whistle.
