Werkself end 2024/25 with away record after 2-2 draw in Mainz

In his final game as head coach, Xabi Alonso made four changes to the team that started against Borussia Dortmund last week. Aleix Garcia and Exequiel Palacios came into midfield for Robert Andrich and Granit Xhaka, while Schick led the line in place of Amine Adli. Jonas Hofmann was also given the nod, with Jeremie Frimpong on the bench.

Strange first half

The hosts had their first chance inside two minutes through Burkardt before Andreas Hanche-Olsen went for the acrobatic from the ensuing corner. Nebel then squandered an excellent chance but fired wide of Lukas Hradecky’s goal with only seven minutes played. Mainz thought they had finally gone ahead when ex-Leverkusen man Nadiem Amiri turned in Kaishu Sano’s delivery, but it was ruled out for offside on review. Referee Tobias Reichel was forced to take back the 05ers’ second for offside as well after Jae-Sung Lee had put away during a scramble in the Bayer 04 box with half an hour gone. Hanche-Olsen then put the ball in the Werkself net with the next attack barely a minute later. However, it was once again chalked off by VAR because Hradecky had his hand on the ball first. Amazingly, it was still goalless after half an hour.

Mainz finally had what they wanted when Amiri dispossessed Garcia in midfield and squared to Nebel, who’s shot deflected off Jonathan Tah and in. This goal stood as the hosts took a lead into the break.

Schick brace, Burkardt hits back

After a very quiet first half going forward, the Werkself came out firing after the restart. They quickly got themselves level when Schick was taken down by Hanche-Olsen in the box on the counter, with the Czech striker making no mistake from the spot. He then doubled up for his 21st goal of the campaign when he nodded in a corner at the far post to turn the game on its head with 54 minutes played. However, Mainz’s response was swift as they pushed for European qualification. When Arthur caught Lee in the area, referee Reichel reviewed the scene before awarding another spot-kick, which Burkardt dispatched to restore parity. The 05ers thought they’d hit a winner when Stefan Bell fired into the top corner on the spin with 92 minutes gone, but once again Reichel was summoned over to the monitor and took back the goal due to handball.

It ultimately meant the game ended 2-2 as the Werkself finish the season as runners-up but with a new record of 34 away games – two full campaigns – unbeaten in the Bundesliga, breaking Bayern Munich’s previous best of 33.

Match stats:

Mainz: Zentner - Da Costa, Bell, Hanche-Olsen - Caci (Veratschnig 70'), Sano, Amiri (Maloney 90'+2), Mwene ( Widmer 87') - Nebel, Lee - Burkhardt (Weiper 90'+2)

Bayer 04: Hradecky - Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie - Tella (Adli 46'), Garcia (Buendia 87'), Palacios, Grimaldo (Arthur 25') - Hofmann (Andrich 46'), Wirtz - Schick

Goals: 1-0 Nebel (35'), 1-1 Schick (pen, 49'), 1-2 Schick (54'), 2-2 Burkardt (pen, 63')

Yellow cards: Bell, Hanche-Olsen - Palacios, Garcia, Hincapie, Arthur, Tah, Wirtz, Alonso (head coach), Thiel (goalkeeping coach)

Referee: Tobias Reichel

Attendance: 33,305 at the MEWA Arena (sold out)