Mainz's charge up the Bundesliga standings continued apace as Leandro Barreiro - on his 100th Bundesliga appearance - netted the only goal of the game against a Hoffenheim side who dropped further into relegation trouble following their latest loss.

Mainz 1-0 Hoffenheim
Goals: 1-0 Barreiro 33'

Mainz have been flying under Bo Svensson of late and the 05ers took all of the confidence that three wins on the bounce brings into this game. Knowing another victory in that sequence would keep them in the hunt for a European spot, the hosts soon set about their troubled opponents. Ludovic Ajorque and Barreiro provided a constant threat throughout the opening 45 minutes, with the pair combining to create the game’s first chance. On that occasion, the 6’5” French forward saw a shot deflected wide after Barreiro’s initial effort was saved by Oliver Baumann. The Hoffenheim goalkeeper again showed sharp reflexes when parrying out Stefan Bell’s close-range volley from a corner, but Barreiro’s subsequent strike into the ground from the follow up found the corner of the net to put Mainz ahead.

Without a win in their previous 13 games, the visitors were keen to turn a corner under recently appointed coach Pellegrino Matarazzo. They began the second half well, Dennis Geiger drawing a solid stop from Robin Zentner. Matarazzo’s steady flow of substitutes kept the hosts guessing but, try as they might, the Sinsheimers couldn’t gain a solid foothold in the contest. As the half progressed, Marcus Ingvartsen looked to have decided matters for Mainz, however the Dane’s effort was ruled out for offside. At the other end, Ihlas Bebou and Munas Dabbur both spurned presentable chances but it was the 05ers who would finish the contest the stronger of the teams. Seventeen-year-old striker Nelson Weiper might have added some gloss to the Mainz scoreline had he converted one of two opportunities late on, but in the end, those misses wouldn't matter to a side that have now won five of their last six games.

Match stats

• Barreiro has scored twice and assisted twice in his last six games.
• Mainz have scored 19 times in their eight games following the winter break.
• Jae-sung Lee appeared in his 50th Bundesliga game.
• Mainz have put more goals past Hoffenheim (51) than any Bundesliga team they've faced, only failing to score in six of their 28 previous meetings (W13, D7, L8).
• A 13th successive Bundesliga match without victory sets a new unwanted club record at Hoffenheim.
• The Sinsheim outfit have now lost six straight matches for the first time since 2012.

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Teams

Mainz: Zentner (c) - Hanche-Olsen, Bell, Fernandes - da Costa (Widmer 73'), Barreiro, Kohr (Stach 46'), Caci - Lee (Weiper 84') - Ingvartsen (Barkok 73'), Ajorque (Hack 90'+4)
Unused subs: Dahmen, Martin, Leitsch, Burgzorg
Out: Burkardt (knee), Onisiwo (knee)
Coach: Bo Svensson

Hoffenheim: Baumann (c) - Kabak, Vogt, Akpoguma (Skov 69') - Kaderabek, Geiger (Becker 69'), Delaney (Rudy 46'), Angelino - Baumgartner - Dolberg (Dabbur 59'), Kramaric (Bebou 59')
Unused subs: Philipp, Bicakcic, Brooks, Tohumcu
Out: Bischof (ankle), Bruun Larsen (groin), Che (knee), Prömel (ankle), Stiller (pelvis)
Coach: Pellegrino Matarazzo

About the clubs

TSG Hoffenheim

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1. FSV Mainz 05

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