H. Osmers
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Full-time
90'
ADDED TIME!
We'll have four minutes of added time here in Mainz.
90'
Substitution
88'
TIME FOR MORE DRAMA?
We're into the final couple of minutes here with Fortuna piling on the pressure to try and get a winner...
85'
KARAMAN THE HERO!
And Fortuna are level, with Mainz only having themselves to blame. A cross comes in from the right wing and both Bruma and Müller go for the ball. It spills out between them and falls perfectly for Karaman to smash home from in front of goal. His fourth goal of the season, and finally a goal for Fortuna from their 18th shot on goal of the game.
84'
WHERE HEROES ARE MADE
We're into the business end of this vital game at the bottom of the Bundesliga. Fortuna at risk of letting a gap build between themselves and Augsburg unless they can get a late point or more here...
79'
OFORI ON
The talented 18-year-old midfielder is on now for Fortuna, making his Bundesliga debut.
79'
Substitution
77'
MATETA SHOWN RED
The Frenchman is sent off for a second bookable offence after leaning into Hoffmann with an elbow as they contested an aerial duel.
75'
CHANGES
With time running out, Fortuna have to go for this here. Mainz are battling well still and defending their lead. Hennings and Sobottka are on and looking to change that.
74'
Substitution
72'
Substitution
70'
BERISHA ON HIS OWN
It's another great chance on the counter for Fortuna with Berisha on the ball. He has Thommy and Stöger for support but goes alone with space for a shot at the near post, but Müller makes a decent save to deny him again. That's their 16th attempt on goal so far.
64'
FORTUNA FUMING
After 14 attempts on goal from Fortuna, it's Mainz who go ahead with their first attempt of the game. A lesson learned for the away side.
62'
INCREDIBLE! MAINZ LEAD!
With their first shot on goal of the game, Mainz go into the lead just after the hour mark. Quaison beats one in midfield before playing Mateta in. He chips the ball over Kastenmeier and it's goal-bound before Öztunali makes sure of it with a header ahead of a Fortuna defender on the goal-line. Mainz ahead, undeservedly, you could say...
61'
SituationNo goal
ReviewOffside?
DecisionGoal
59'
FINALLY APPLYING PRESSURE
A first corner of the day comes for Mainz here, bringing some noise from the home support who have had little to celebrate so far.
52'
FORTUNA PICKING UP WHERE THEY LEFT OFF
Nothing has changed from the first half so far in this second half. The away side are on top and keeping Mainz very much on the back foot.
49'
BIG SAVE FROM MÜLLER
The half-time goalkeeping substitute is straight into the action to keep his side level. Thommy runs past Barreiro and into the box before shooting at goal, but it deflects and is about to get past Müller before he produces some fantastic reflexes to parry the ball away.
46'
Substitution
46'
Substitution
46'
SECOND HALF BEGINS
We're back underway in Mainz with a couple of changes for the home side. Müller is on in goal for the injured Zentner, while Öztunali is on for Pierre-Gabriel.
Kick-off!
45'
+ 2
ZENTNER OFF
The Mainz goalkeeper has been substituted at the break, with Florian Müller coming on in his place. Levin Öztunali is also coming on.
45'
+ 2
ONE-SIDED FIRST HALF
It was all Fortuna in that opening half, with the away side enjoying 12 attempts on goal compared to Mainz's 0. It's the first time in their Bundesliga history that Mainz have failed to register a shot on goal in the first half of a home match. Still, though, the score remains level and either side can go on and take the win in the second half.
Half-time
44'
STÖGER FIRES WIDE
More good movement from Fortuna to provide Stöger with space to shoot on the edge of the box, but he drags his shot just a few inches wide of the Mainz goal.
39'
FORTUNA PLAYING WITH STYLE
It's been a delight to watch Fortuna in this first half. The passing and moving when in possession and speed of pressing when without it is inspired. They'll be disappointed not to be ahead so far, but their control of this game is not wavering.
35'
HUGE CHANCE, BIG SAVE!
Fortuna will be kicking themselves to not be ahead. Karaman has the ball with his back to goal towards the right of the box but cuts the ball back into the middle superbly. Suttner meets it at the near post and hits a shot at goal with his right foot, but Zentner produces a stunning save to keep the scores level.
32'
FORTUNA STILL ON TOP
High pressing up the pitch and confident passing is keeping the away side in control of things here. Midfield domination is helping them to keep most of the possession and trap Mainz in their own half...
24'
ZENTNER CARRYING ON
He's back up and play continues with the Mainz goalkeeper still between the sticks for now.
24'
ZENTNER DOWN
The Mainz goalkeeper has a problem here and his receiving treatment to his right leg. Florian Müller is getting ready to come on, so it could be the end of his night.
21'
SLOWER START
With Onisiwo, Mateta and Quaison all starting, it's actually been hard for Mainz to bring the ball from defence to attack. Quaison has often come deep into midfield to pick up the ball and things justs haven't run smoothly going forward thus far.
15'
THE NEXT CHANCE!
Fortuna not letting up here as Berisha crosses from the left and Karaman meets the ball, but it slices wide of the mark off his right foot. His blushes are saved by the offside flag.
12'
BRIGHT START
The away side have had 70 per cent of the ball and six attempts on target in these opening minutes. Mainz have yet to conjure an attempt on goal.
7'
THOMMY NOW GOES CLOSE
Karaman crosses into the box and Pierre-Gabriel misjudges his header, allowing it to run to the back post. Thommy's first touch isn't perfect and he has to go for goal from a strange angle, and his effort goes wide. A good start from Fortuna here...
3'
SUTTNER WITH AN EFFORT!
A great first go at goal in this game from the full-back as he receives a quickly taken corner on the edge of the Mainz box. He shoots low across goal, and it bounces just beyond the far post with Zentner at full stretch.
1'
AWAY WE GO IN MAINZ!
The final game of Matchday 25 in the Bundesliga is underway...
Kick-off!
THREE AT THE BACK FOR MAINZ
Achim Beierlorzer has confirmed that it's a three-man defence for his side today. So the set-up will be: Zentner - Pierre-Gabriel, Bruma, Niakhate - Baku, Latza (c), Barreiro, Mwene - Quaison, Mateta, Onisiwo
ROCKIN ROBIN
Mainz striker Robin Quaison has scored 12 goals through the first 24 games of the season. No Mainz player has ever had more goals to their name at this stage of a season.
RÖSLER: "THERE IS ALWAYS PRESSURE IN A RELEGATION BATTLE"
Düsseldorf head coach Uwe Rösler is not shying away from the situation his side are in and is facing the challenges head on: "We’re going to Mainz to get a result, ideally a win. We’re always under pressure: we were after the win in Freiburg and we were after drawing against Hertha. That’s just life in a relegation battle.”
HISTORY WITH MAINZ
The 05ers have won three of their five Bundesliga meetings with Fortuna over the years, including both that have taken place on home turf so far. There has been one draw, while Düsseldorf earned a narrow 1-0 victory in the reverse fixture earlier this season.
MAINZ THE FORM SIDE
Achim Beierlorzer's side have kept clean sheets in their last two home games, beating Paderborn 2-0 and drawing 0-0 with Schalke. They also beat Hertha Berlin 3-1 away on Matchday 21, but did suffer a heavy 4-0 reverse in Wolfsburg two weeks ago. Düsseldorf, meanwhile, have drawn three of their last five games, interspersed by a loss to Gladbach and a win over Schalke.
MAINZ STARTING XI:
Zentner - Pierre-Gabriel, Bruma, Niakhate, Mwene - Baku, Latza (c), Barreiro, Quaison - Onisiwo, Mateta
MAINZ SUBS:
Müller, Aaron, Boetius, Öztunali, Ji, Kunde, Brosinski, Fernandes, Szalai
DÜSSELDORF STARTING XI:
Kastenmeier - Ayhan, Hoffmann, Suttner - Zimmermann, Bodzek (c), Gießelmann - Stöger, Berisha - Thommy, Karaman
DÜSSELDORF SUBS:
Rensing, Morales, Fink, Ofori, Jorgensen, Skrzybski, Hennings, Sobottka, Zimmer
THE STAKES
Simply put: Bundesliga survival. Mainz are currently in 15th with 25 points, while Düsseldorf are one place and four points below in the relegation play-off spot. A win for the hosts here, then, could be a big step towards securing their top-flight safety, as well as dealing a big psychological blow to Fortuna. The opposisite would be true if the away side win though, so we have a veritable six-pointer on our hands!
Welcome along to the match centre for the game Mainz vs. Düsseldorf from matchday 25 of the 2019/20 Bundesliga season at the OPEL ARENA. Check back here for full information on the match.