Finn Dahmen made four saves to deny his former club Mainz. - © IMAGO/Gerhard Schultheiß

bundesliga

Finn Dahmen frustrates former club as Augsburg claim goalless draw at Mainz

08.02.2025

Former Mainz goalkeeper Finn Dahmen produced a stellar performance to deny his old team as Augsburg held on for a point in a tense battle between two in-form sides on Matchday 21.

Mainz 0-0 Augsburg

Mainz welcomed Augsburg without their suspended coach Bo Henriksen, who was forced to watch from the stands. The match would prove to be largely a test of Mainz's attacking prowess against Augsburg's resilient defence, supported by the hosts' former goalkeeper.

Augsburg are now unbeaten in five Bundesliga matches after the 0-0 draw. - IMAGO/Paul Fritz

Mainz dominate but Dahmen stands firm

The first half saw Mainz take control of the game, dominating possession and creating several chances. Paul Nebel was particularly active, forcing a good save from Dahmen in the sixth minute. Dahmen was in inspired form, making another crucial stop to deny Nelson Weiper in the 38th minute. The match was not without its physical edge, as Moritz Jenz and Weiper picked up yellow cards for Mainz, while Samuel Essende and Cédric Zesiger were cautioned for Augsburg in the first period.

Six yellow cards were shown in the physical encounter. - IMAGO/Gerhard Schultheiß

Augsburg threaten on the counter

The second half saw a shift in momentum as Augsburg began to pose more of a threat on the counter-attack. Mert Kömür forced a strong save from Robin Zentner in the 52nd minute. Mainz continued to push for a breakthrough, with Jonathan Burkardt coming off the bench to try and make an impact. The hosts had a golden opportunity in the 87th minute, but Burkardt couldn't direct his effort on target. As the match entered its final stages, Augsburg had their own chance to snatch a victory, with Fredrik Jensen's shot going agonisingly wide in the 85th minute.

Player of the Match: Chrislain Matsima

While Dahmen's heroics in goal for Augsburg were noteworthy, it was Chrislai Matsima who earned the Player of the Match honours. The young defender put in a commanding performance at the heart of Augsburg's defence, helping to neutralise Mainz's attacking threats. Matsima's positioning and reading of the game were crucial in maintaining Augsburg's clean sheet, particularly as Mainz ramped up the pressure in the latter stages of the match.

Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Mainz 1.83 - Augsburg 0.28
Fastest player: Frank Onyeka (Augsburg), 34.31 km/h
Most pressed player: Paul Nebel (Mainz), 23 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Phillipp Mwene (Mainz), +2.72

Fantasy Heroes: Danny da Costa (Mainz, 208 Points), Kaishu Sano (Mainz, 179 Points), Alexis Claude-Maurice (Augsburg, 179 Points)