Highlights

Matchday 29

FINAL

PreZero Arena

1. FSV Mainz 05

90' + 4'

NebelPaul Nebel

KramarićAndrej Kramarić

32'

KramarićAndrej Kramarić

S. Jablonski

PreZero Arena

Full-time: Hoffenheim 2-0 Mainz

Hoffenheim earned a deserved win over Mainz thanks to a clinical brace from Kramarić and an excellent defensive display. Mainzwere the dominant team for long spells, but Henrikson's men were unable to get going and bring the danger on Baumann's goal. A great result in Hoffenheim's bid to beat the drop, while for Mainz, the chances of a Champions League finish just took a knock.

Full-time

90'

+ 4

Avoidable

The Mainz star gets a second yellow for interfering with a Hoffenheim throw-in. That sums up Mainz's miserable afternoon.

90'

+ 4

Second yellow card

Paul Nebel

90'

+ 3

Move along

Hoffenheim keeper Baumann earns a first yellow of the season, for time wasting.

90'

+ 3

Yellow card

Oliver Baumann

90'

+ 1

Added time

There will be six minutes of time added on. Still time for some late drama!

90'

Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes

Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.

Bazoumana Toure35.28km/h

David Jurásek34.69km/h

Erencan Yardımcı33.80km/h

87'

Side netting

Sieb carves out some space on the left-hand side of the area and opts to shoot from a tight angle, but his powerful effort flies the wrong side of the post.

85'

Substitution

Dennis Geiger

Andrej Kramarić

85'

Substitution

Erencan Yardımcı

Haris Tabaković

84'

All-out attack

Mainz are pushing forward in numbers as their need to get back into the match grows in urgency. The clock is ticking.

82'

Substitution

Hyunseok Hong

Dominik Kohr

80'

Almost 3-0!

Jurásek drives the ball down the left wing and whips in a low, sharp cross in front of the goal - but Jenz clears before the looming Tabaković can shoot!

78'

Mainz are pushing

The visitors are working hard on the ball, while Hoffenheim are focused on defending and the occasional counter. However, Mainz still can't seem to capitalise on possession.

Possession (%)

4060

75'

Over-enthusiastic

The young Hoffenheim playmaker looks to disposess Nordin but goes in a bit too hard...

75'

Yellow card

Tom Bischof

75'

Pressure Handling

This Match Fact examines how successfully players perform under pressure. The percentage of "solved situations" indicates how often a player has freed himself from opponent pressure by dribbling, passing, scoring a goal or drawing a foul.

80%

Kaishu Sano

10 times under pressure

74'

Substitution

David Jurásek

Marius Bülter

73'

Hoffenheim on the counter once more

Hoffenheim pounce on an interception and get forward in numbers, with Stach finishing the countermoveattack with a free shot from 16 metres out. But Zentner produces another brilliant save !

70'

Another chance for Weiper!

Picked out at the far post with a whipped cross, Weiper angles a bullet header that goes within inches of getting Mainz back into the match. So close!

67'

Substitution

Adam Hložek

Bazoumana Toure

66'

Substitution

Armindo Sieb

Nikolas Veratschnig

65'

Touré breaks again

After a blocked shot from Mainz, Hoffenheim counter again. Touré is off and running again, but before he can set up a third goal, Veratschnig intervenes.

62'

No danger

Mainz continue to display a better passing game as they set up in Hoffenheim's half, but they just can't find a way past the home side's dogged defending.

Goal attempts

1off target

4on target

7off target

1on target

60'

Nsoki goes down

Play is held up after Hoffenheim defender is floored in a challenge. He receives treament on the sidelines but soon returns to the pitch.

55'

Zentner denies Chaves!

Rising highest from a corner Chaves gets his header on target but the Mainz keeper is up to the task, palming it wide.

52'

Blocked!

Stach shoots powerfully from 16 metres out, but Kohr gets in the way and deflects the ball for a corner with his back.

49'

Uncontrolled

Near the corner flag, Nebel slides in for a tackle and collects Akpoguma. Yellow!

49'

Yellow card

Paul Nebel

49'

Kohr gets treatment

The Mainz man needs some attention after am aerial challenge against Tabaković, but looks ok to continue.

46'

Bülter has a crack

A long ball after kick-off falls at Bülter's feet on the edge of the box. He shoots immediately, but Zentner has no problem saving the low drive.

46'

We're back under way!

With no changes for either side at half-time, Hoffenheim kick off the second half.

Kick-off!

Half-time: Hoffenheim 2-0 Mainz

Although Mainz saw 60 percent of the ball in the first half, their failure to create clear-cut chances was highlighted as Hoffenheim - thanks to the class of Croatia striker Kramarić - made their two big chances count. The home side, looking otherwise break a four-match winless streak, now have something to defend, while Mainz - missing the quality of Burkardt and Amiri - have to find some cutting edge after the break if they are to get a result.

Half-time

45'

+ 3

Clumsy

The French defender brings down compatriot Nordin, who had been looking to use his pace to break on the right, and is duly sanctioned.

45'

+ 2

Yellow card

Stanley Nsoki

45'

+ 1

Added time

There will be three supplementary minutes played.

44'

No danger

Gendrey breaks through on the right wing and crosses from the byline, but Jenz is able to head the ball away with almost pressure.

40'

Mwene limps off

Apparently suffering from a thigh complaint, Mwene is replaced by Frenchman Arnaud Nordin.

40'

Substitution

Arnaud Nordin

Phillipp Mwene

37'

Mainz on the back foot

Mainz have made much of the early running in this match, proving the more active and efficient side, yet they find them,selves two goals down. Can they claw their way back into the match?

35'

A welcome double

This is only the second time this season that Kramarić has scored twice. The first time was on Matchday 1 against Kiel, when he went on to complete his hat-trick.

Kramarić does it again!

After a Mainz corner, Bülter clears the ball long. However, the Mainz defence fail to shut down Touré, who breaks and picks out an unmarked Kramarić. The Hoffenheim talisman has all the time in the world to curl a well placed shot past Zentner and double the home side's advantage.

32'

Andrej Kramarić

GOAL!

2:0

Goal probability

Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.

37 %

Shot speed

Shot speed describes the maximum speed in km/h that a ball reaches in a shot on goal. The distance is measured from the location of the shot to the centre of the goal.

72.83 km/h

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

15.78 m

30'

Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes

Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.

Bazoumana Toure33.80km/h

Stanley Pierre Nsoki33.43km/h

Kaishu Sano33.09km/h

29'

Weiper on the turn!

Found with a quick pass on the edge of the area, Weiper flicks the ball up, turns and fires powerful shot goalwards - but Baumann has the reflexes required and turned it wide. Nonetheless, a real chance for Mainz.

27'

Return to sender

Nebel dribbles his way down the right and crosses, but the ball finds no takers on wither side and goes out.

24'

Dangerous tackle

Hoffenheim defender Chaves sees yellow after his tackle hits Kohr's ankle - just as Main were looking to make good on a high interception.

23'

Yellow card

Arthur Chaves

19'

Mainz applying pressure

Mainz are getting better and better in the last few minutes and are showing some great combinations. So far, in the face of some sharp defending from Hoffenheim, they have lacked the spark to break through in the final third.

15'

Veratschnig flagged

The forward breaks through on the left and looks to flick a finish past Baumann with the outside of his right boot, but the Germany keeper saves and, in any case, the flag is raised for offside.

13'

Weiper has a crack

Picked out at the far post, Mainz centre-forward Nelson Weiper does well to get a header on the high ball but the resulting effort lacks danger. Srtill Mainz are showing signs of life.

Mainz push

The visitors set up on the edged of the Hoffenheim area and work their combinations in a bid to ind a gap, but to no avail so far...

The Fastest

That was Hoffenheim's earliest strike of the season so far, and should see them grow in confidence. Mainz need to hit back!

Kramarić fires Hoffenheim to early lead!

After a long clearance, Toure breaks through on the right wing and crosses the ball low across the face of goal. Kramarić is in exactly the right position at the far post and easily taps the ball over the line!

Andrej Kramarić

GOAL!

1:0

Goal probability

80 %

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

5.52 m

We're under way!

Visitors Mainz, decked out in red, kick off against hosts Hoffenheim in blue.

Kick-off!

Not long now

As the home fans sing the Hoffenheim anthem, the players get ready to take the pitch. Can a Burkardt-less Mainz stay on track or a top-four finish or will Hoffenheim break their four-match winless streak and pull clear of the drop zone? Watch this space!

Milestone

Marius Bülter will play his 50th Bundesliga game for Hoffenheim today (he has also played 58 times for Union and 33 times for S04). Can he celebrate by firing Hoffenheim to a first home win of 2025?

Weiper a factor too

Nelson Weiper has scored two of his three goals for the season when handed a spot in the starting XI. The youngster has already hinted several times that he can deputise well for Burkardt.

0:09

Nebel into the breach?

Can Germany U21 attacking midfielder Paul Nebel shoulder the scoring burden with Jonathan Burkardt and Nadiem Amiri both out? With eight goals and five assists this season, he is the most likely to fire Mainz to victory and a a return to the Champions League places.

0:09

0:15

More on those teams

Henriksen has made three changes to the Mainz side that drew 1-1 with Kiel, with Dominik Kohr coming win for the suspended Nadiem Amiri while Nicolas Veratschnig and Nelson Weiper start for Andreas Hanche-Olsen and Jonathan Burkardt (ill). Keeper Robin Zentner gets the captain's armband in the absence of Germany striker Burkardt. Meanwhile Ilzer has opted to start Kevin Akpoguma to replace Leo Østigård, who is suspended after a straight red card in the 3-1 loss to Leipzig, and leave Adam Hložek and Gift Orban on the bench.

Mainz starting XI

Zentner (c) - Da Costa, Jenz, Kohr - Caci, Sano, Veratschnig, Mwene - Nebel, Lee - Weiper

Mainz subs

Rieß, Batz, Hanche-Olsen, Widmer, Hong, Maloney, Gleiber, Nordin, Sieb

Hoffenheim starting XI

Baumann (c) - Gendrey, Chaves, Akpoguma, Nsoki - Stach, Bischof - Touré, Kramarić, Bülter - Tabaković

Hoffenheim subs

Philipp, Kadeřábek, Jurásek, Geiger, Tohumcu, Becker, Orban, Hložek, Yardımcı

Bo Henriksen on facing Hoffenheim

“We know that we’re up against a strong team who know how to play football. However, we also have the confidence to say that we’re also a good team. For us, it will come down to being able to bring that power and energy to the pitch and being better in possession than we have been in recent weeks. If we work together, then we have everything we need in order to win.”

Christian Ilzer on facing Mainz

"I haven't seen any weaknesses recently [in Mainz’s team]. The first half against Kiel was perhaps not the best, they were outnumbered against Freiburg and losing in Dortmund can happen to anyone. They're having a really strong season. You can only congratulate them on that. We have to accept that going into this game and bring our energy onto the pitch."

Probable line-ups

Who’s set to play this weekend? Who’s going to miss out? Keep up to date with all the latest team news right here!

Bogey team?

Hoffenheim are on a run of four straight defeats and come up against a Mainz side that has bagged more wins against them (15) than they have against any other side in the Bundesliga.

Set peace!

Hoffenheim and Mainz are the only two Bundesliga clubs this season not have scored a goal directly following a corner. Together, they've had more than 250 attempts without success.

2:03

Watch: RB Leipzig 3-1 Hoffenheim - highlights

Hoffenheim's loss to RB Leipzig means it is now four games without a win. They sit five points above Heidenheim in the relegation playoff spot.

2:03

Watch: Mainz 1-1 Holstein Kiel - highlights

Nelson Weiper rescued a late point for Mainz against bottom side Kiel, who bounced back from consecutive losses with a draw against the Champions League chasing side.

Hello and welcome!

Welcome along and thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of this Matchday 29 fixture between TSG Hoffenheim and 1. FSV Mainz 05.