FFor FSV Mainz 05 it was a heavy setback after the hopeful days. Against Eintracht Frankfurt, Rheinhessen missed the enthusiasm that had broken out with the return of Christian Heidel, Martin Schmidt and Bo Svensson for a long time – and gave their new coach a 2-0 defeat on their debut. From a sporting point of view, the situation has become a bit more bleak given the Schalke victory over Hoffenheim; after 15 match days the 05ers are again last.
“Sure, today was the derby,” said captain Danny Latza on the “Sky” microphone when asked whether Svensson had put the team in the mood for the game emotionally. However, there was nothing to be seen in the first half. Although the Mainz team could know that they were dealing with an opponent who never let up, it could not be said that they were spitting poison and bile themselves. They were a good 20 meters higher than in the last games under Jan-Moritz Lichte, but they did not develop much pressure on Eintracht. Their duel quota before the break was 39 percent – that reflected how much there was a lack of bite, which was also reflected in too large intervals.
This had a fatal effect in the 22nd minute: Amin Younes launched an attack in midfield, Latza could not stop the Frankfurter. Leandro Barreiro, the second Mainz six, could have stood in the way, but remained in his observer position. And when Younes passed diagonally into the penalty area, Moussa Niakhaté did not stand well against André Silva and caused a penalty with a jersey swab. Silva transformed himself to 0: 1.
It was one of the moments that Svensson acknowledged with shaking his head or bowing his head, in some other scenes he applauded his actors after good or well-intentioned actions. Overall, however, the Dane was very calm, coaching more cold than temperamental. His team developed more passion in the second round and had two great chances through Jonathan Burkardt: After a one-two with Jean-Paul Boëtius he shot over from eleven meters, with a diving header he failed at the post.
But when the Mainz team, who were denied a penalty after allegedly fouling Leandro Barreio via video evidence, believed they were on the right track, Niakhaté committed his second fatal foul. This time in the five meter area against Martin Hinteregger. Silva transformed again (72nd) and ended the long series of victories in Eintracht in Mainz.
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