Drama aplenty as 10-man Mainz hold Freiburg in thrilling 2-2 draw
Mainz and Freiburg played out an end-to-end draw that had fans enthralled at the MEW Arena, with the hosts eventually holding on despite a first-half red card. Goals from Jonathan Burkardt and Andreas Hanche-Olsen had the home side pushing for victory, but Michael Gregoritsch and Lukas Kübler had other ideas for the visitors.
Mainz 2-2 Freiburg
Goals: 1-0 Burkardt 34’ (assist: Caci), 1-1 Gregoritsch 58’ (assist: Günter), 2-1 Hanche-Olsen 74’ (assist: Caci), 2-2 Kübler 79’ (assist: Dōan)
Red card: Kohr 43’
With both teams vying for European spots, the stage was set for an enthralling contest. Mainz entered the match in fine form, boasting the league's best defence. Freiburg, meanwhile, arrived on the back of an impressive six-game unbeaten run, setting the scene for an unmissable tactical battle between coaches Bo Henriksen and Julian Schuster.
Burkardt strikes, Kohr sees red
After a cagey opening, it was Burkardt who broke the deadlock in the 34th minute. The Mainz striker latched onto Anthony Caci's cross to slot home, sending the home crowd into raptures. However, the jubilation was short-lived as Mainz's Dominik Kohr received a straight red card in the 43rd minute for denying Lucas Höler a clear goalscoring opportunity just outside the penalty area. Despite the setback, Mainz held firm, with goalkeeper Robin Zentner producing a stunning save to deny Vincenzo Grifo's free-kick just before half-time.
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Freiburg fight back twice
The second half saw Freiburg push for an equaliser, and their persistence paid off in the 58th minute. Gregoritsch, on as a half-time substitute, rose highest to head home Christian Günter's cross, levelling the scores.
The visitors continued to press, but Zentner stood firm, producing a series of remarkable saves to keep Mainz in the game. Against the run of play, Mainz regained the lead in the 74th minute when Hanche-Olsen headed home from close range following a goalmouth scramble. However, Freiburg's resilience shone through once more. Just five minutes later, Kübler slammed home from close range after excellent work from Ritsu Dōan, ensuring the spoils were shared in this thrilling encounter.
Player of the Match: Robin Zentner
In a game brimming with standout performances, it was Mainz goalkeeper Zentner who truly stole the show. The 28-year-old was a colossus between the sticks, producing a series of crucial saves that kept his team in the game.
Zentner's heroics were particularly evident in the second half when Freiburg piled on the pressure. His reflexes and positioning denied Höler twice in quick succession, while his command of the area helped organise a defence under siege. Zentner's performance was not just about quantity but quality, with several saves bordering on the spectacular, ultimately proving the difference between one point and none for his team.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Mainz 1.68 - Freiburg 3.26
Fastest player: Caci (Mainz), 33.74 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 2-2 by Kübler (Freiburg), 94 per cent
Most pressed player: Dōan (Freiburg), 24 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Caci (Mainz), +1.97
Fantasy Heroes: Dōan (Freiburg, 329 Points), Caci (Mainz 05, 321 Points), Günter (Freiburg, 211 Points)
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