bundesliga

Mainz claim deserved win in seven-goal thriller in Mönchengladbach

19.09.2026

There was drama aplenty at Borussia-Park on Saturday, as Gladbach and Mainz served up a wild seven-goal contest that eventually resulted in a merited 4-3 victory for the visitors.

Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-4 Mainz
Goals: 1-0 Neuhaus 11’ (assist: Ullrich), 1-1 Tietz 18’ (assist: Becker), 1-2 Becker 45’+1 (assist: Caci), 2-2 Lidberg 59’ (assist: Ullrich), 2-3 Martel 78’ (assist: Sano), 2-4 Da Costa 89’, 3-4 Machino (pen) 90’+5

Interim head coach Jan-Moritz Lichte made four changes to Borussia Mönchengladbach's starting XI, bringing in Isac Lidberg, Florian Neuhaus, Lukas Ullrich and Jan Leszczyński. Kevin Diks wore the captain's armband for the hosts in the absence of the suspended Tim Kleindienst.

Mainz, meanwhile, made one adjustment, with Alexander Schwolow returning in goal for the injured Robin Zentner.

Gladbach's Florian Neuhaus scored on his first competitive appearance since early April. - IMAGO/Norbert Jansen / fohlenfoto

Neuhaus and Tietz trade early blows

Gladbach struck first when Neuhaus redirected Ullrich's effort into the bottom corner after 11 minutes. Mainz responded quickly through Phillip Tietz, who arrived at the back post to convert a low cross from Becker in the 18th minute. Sheraldo Becker then put the visitors ahead just before the break, impressively heading home Anthony Caci's cross in the first minute of stoppage time to make it 2-1 at the interval.

Sheraldo Becker was one of Mainz's stand-out performers at Borussia-Park. - IMAGO/Harald Bremes

Diks off the post, Lidberg levels

Early in the second half Tietz handled in the box and referee Robert Hartmann awarded Gladbach a penalty after a VAR review, but Diks' spot kick cannoned back off the post. Gladbach were not deterred, and Lidberg equalised in the 59th minute, steering in Ullrich's inviting cross from to make it 2-2.

Mainz regained the lead 20 minutes later when substitute Eric Martel headed in Kaishu Sano's cross, and Danny da Costa added a fourth for the visitors in the last minute of normal time after Daniel Posch's header was saved.

Deep into stoppage time, Martel was also penalised for a handball in the box, and Shuto Machino converted the resulting penalty to make it 4-3, but there would be no further fightback efforts from the hosts before the final whistle.

Sheraldo Becker of Mainz 05 celebrates scoring his team's second goal with Kacper Potulski during the match at ista-Borussia-Park. - Bundesliga/Getty Images/Pau Barrena

Man of the Match: Sheraldo Becker

Becker set up Tietz's equaliser and then headed home Mainz's second goal himself right before half-time, capping a first half in which he broke free from every pressure situation he faced. He was voted Man of the Match with 38 percent of the votes, having produced a goal and an assist in a display that significantly shaped the outcome of the game.

Phillip Tietz, currently on a rich vein of goalscoring form, levelled for Mainz in the 18th minute. - IMAGO/Maik Hölter/TEAM2sportphoto

Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Gladbach 3.22 - Mainz 2.32
Fastest player: Franck Honorat (Gladbach), 34.78 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 1-2 by Sheraldo Becker (Mainz), 9 percent
Most pressed player: Sheraldo Becker (Mainz), 12 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Phillipp Mwene (Mainz), +2.68

Fantasy Heroes: Sheraldo Becker (Mainz, 271 Points), Isac Lidberg (Gladbach), 243 Points), Phillip Tietz (Mainz, 225 Points)