Leipzig lose against Mainz after Hollerbach shock

Shock of injury to Benedict Hollerbach absorbed, climbed out of the relegation zone for the time being: FSV Mainz 05 surprisingly won 2:1 (1:1) at RB Leipzig and handed the Champions League aspirants their next setback against a relegation candidate. Mainz suffered a potentially serious injury to Hollerbach, who was carried off the pitch in the early stages.

Conrad Harder (40') headed Leipzig into the lead, Nadiem Amiri (45.+6) equalized with a penalty. Silas (49), who came on as a substitute for Hollerbach, scored for the visitors and turned the game around. In front of 35,487 fans, Mainz climbed out of the relegation zone for the time being with the win, while Leipzig suffered their next setback in the race for the top flight. The Saxons have now been without a home win against Mainz since January 2022.

Hollerbach slumps

After a largely uneventful ten minutes, the stadium suddenly fell silent. Hollerbach suddenly slumped down without any influence from his opponent, grabbed his lower right leg and screamed in pain. After minutes of treatment, the striker was carried off the pitch. A longer period of absence is at least to be feared.

Leipzig had to do without their all-time top scorer Christoph Baumgartner against Mainz due to a yellow card suspension. Coach Ole Werner put Harder in the starting line-up in place of the Austrian, with center forward Romulo playing behind the Dane as a hanging striker.

Harder (28) had Leipzig's first shot after almost half an hour, but his header was too harmless. The game then gathered pace - and excitement. First, Harder headed Leipzig into the lead after a cross from Antonio Nusa. Deep into stoppage time of the first half, Phillip Tietz was brought down in the penalty area after a duel with David Raum.

First Amiri, then Silas

Referee Daniel Schlager immediately awarded a penalty. Raum had already awarded a penalty at FC St. Pauli on Tuesday, which had led to the 1:1 final score. According to the TV pictures, Schlager's whistle was now a harsh decision, as Tietz hit Raum first. But the referee decided against studying the slow motion and Amiri scored the equalizer.

After the changeover, Mainz kept the pressure on. Silas dribbled through the Leipzig defense once and turned the game around. At this point, it was not undeserved, especially as Leipzig's defenders did not look good at all when the goal was scored. It was initially an effective goal for Leipzig, and the team hardly managed anything after that.

Werner reacted and brought on Benjamin Henrichs and Ezechiel Banzuzi. Leipzig recovered, but Romulo (62') only hit the post after a low cross from Yan Diomande. Harder's (71) chance was cleared for a corner at the highest level. At the other end, Peter Gulacsi prevented Kaishu Sano (74) from making the final decision.