A stroke of genius from Johan Bakayoko gave RB Leipzig three deserved points at FSV Mainz 05 and completed the Conference League side's poor start to the season. In front of 32,000 spectators, the new summer signing scored in the 40th minute to secure a 1-0 (1-0) victory for the Saxons, who were particularly convincing in defense. Mainz, on the other hand, are still waiting for their first win after their third game in the Bundesliga.
The opening phase belonged to the visitors, who repeatedly found themselves in promising situations with their quick combination play. Bakayoko missed the best chance to take the lead when he ran alone towards Mainz keeper Robin Zentner but missed the post by centimetres.
Mainz forced to make an early change
This was not the only time FSV defender Stefan Bell was late due to his lack of speed. After an early yellow card and another foul, the 34-year-old veteran was on the verge of being sent off, which is why coach Bo Henriksen took him off after just a quarter of an hour. Bell's part in central defense was taken over by Andreas Hanche-Olsen.
And suddenly the course of the game changed. Leipzig's dominance was over. Instead, Mainz, who were missing the suspended Paul Nebel and the injured Jae-sung Lee, were now in control and created their first chances. Arnaud Nordin only hit the post from an acute angle and Phillipp Mwene aimed too high from around 13 meters.
Individual performance gives the visitors the lead
After just over half an hour, Leipzig's Xaver Schlager was brought to an early end. The Austrian, who had been very present until then, limped off the pitch injured and was replaced by Ezechiel Banzuzi. The game then calmed down a little - until Bakayoko came on.
The striker, who arrived from Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven in the summer, moved into the middle from the right wing in Arjen Robben style with the ball on his foot and surprised Zentner with a dry low shot into the near corner.
The home side were hardly shocked by the deficit, however, and almost equalized quickly. However, RB goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi deflected a volley from Nordin over the crossbar.
Mainz lacked penetration
After the restart, the action increasingly shifted into Leipzig's half, but their defense stood firm and hardly allowed anything. In fact, Christoph Baumgartner could even have extended the lead on one of the rare counter-attacks, but narrowly missed. And a shot from substitute Conrad Harder was also close.
Mainz threw everything forward in the final phase, but were too unimaginative near the penalty area. As a result, the strong-running and combative visitors held on to their narrow lead.
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