In the opening match of the 23rd Bundesliga matchday, 1. FSV Mainz 05 and Hamburger SV drew 1:1 (1:0). Nadiem Amiri put Mainz ahead, but Fábio Vieira equalized with a deflected free kick. Both teams secure a point in the relegation battle.
- FSV Mainz 05 and Hamburger SV drew 1:1 (1:0) on Friday evening in the 23rd matchday of the Bundesliga. In front of 33,305 spectators at the Mewa Arena, kickoff was delayed by ten minutes as the HSV team bus was stuck in traffic. HSV coach Merlin Polzin said: “Optimal is different. But we have maximum desire to prove our good form.”
The visitors started confidently and had early chances: Fábio Vieira was denied by goalkeeper Daniel Batz in the 4th minute, and Warmed Omari hit the post in the 20th. Mainz, who had lost 0:4 to Borussia Dortmund previously, struggled offensively. Robert Glatzel missed for HSV. In the 42nd minute, Nadiem Amiri scored his tenth goal of the season with a volley from Danny da Costa's cross, putting Mainz ahead—his seventh in the last seven games.
After halftime, Dominik Kohr committed a foul on Miro Muheim that warranted a red card, but referee Robin Braun issued only a yellow. Coach Urs Fischer, surprised by his daughters on his 60th birthday and receiving flowers and champagne, substituted Kohr cautiously. In the 64th minute, Vieira equalized: His free kick was deflected by the Mainz wall and unreachable for Batz. Phillip Tietz had missed a 2:0 chance in the 61st minute earlier. Later, Sheraldo Becker shot just wide in the 88th. Near the end, there was a dive by HSV substitute Giorgi Gocholeishvili.
HSV remains unbeaten in six straight games and has 26 points (one game fewer), seven clear of the relegation playoff spot. Mainz with 22 points is three points away. Yussuf Poulsen said: “In the end, a 1:1 is okay.” Polzin praised: “Extremely proud” of his team. It was the matchup between the oldest coach Fischer and the youngest Polzin.
