Mikael Ishak on the mark as Nuremberg hold Mainz
Nuremberg got their first Bundesliga points on the board, battling back to hold Mainz 1-1 at the Max-Morlock-Stadion. Mikael Ishak scored for Der Club to cancel out Jean-Philippe Mateta’s opener.
Nuremberg 1-1 Mainz
Goals: 0-1 Mateta (25’), 1-1 Ishak (48’)
Mateta could have broken the deadlock for Mainz minutes in, but the France U21 striker headed wide with the goal at his mercy. Mainz’s game-plan was built around finding the hulking 6’4” striker in the Nuremberg box, and the former Lyon man headed a fine Aaron Martin cross past the post before making it third time lucky inside the half-hour, with another fine assist from his Spanish teammate.
Nuremberg were back on level terms minutes into the second half, though, with Ishak powering home following an Enrico Valentini corner. Florian Müller was forced into a fine save before Daniel Brosinski saved his team at the last as Nuremberg poured forward, but there was to be no way through and it ended 1-1.
Match stats
- Ishak scored 12 goals in Nuremberg’s promotion campaign last season.Nuremberg had lost their last nine Bundesliga matches, dating back to 2013/14 when they were relegated to the second tier.Mateta plundered 19 goals in France’s Ligue 2 last term, helping Le Havre to promotion whilst on loan from Lyon.
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Line-ups
Nuremberg: Bredlow – Valentini, Mühl, Margreitter, Leibold – Behrens (c), Petrak, Fuchs – Palacios (Löwen 65’), Ishak, Kubo
Unused subs: Mathenia, Goden, Bauer, Knöll, Erras, Tillman
Absentees:, Ewerton (ankle), Lippert (cruciate ligament), Zrelak (ill)
Coach: Michael Köllner
Mainz: Müller – Brosinski, Bell (c), Niakhate (Bungert 46’), Aaron – Maxim (Boetius 67’), Kunde, Baku, Onisiwo – Quaison, Mateta
Unused subs: Zentner, Bussmann, Mwene, Barreiro, Burkardt
Absentees: Adler, Berggreen (both knee), Gbamin (groin), Hack (foot), Latza (hernia), Öztunali (thigh)
Coach: Sandro Schwarz
As it happened