RB Leipzig disappointed against Mainz: A bitter setback in the race!

RB Leipzig disappointed against Mainz: A bitter setback in the race!

On March 1, 2025, RB Leipzig experienced a bitter disappointment in the Red Bull Arena when the team lost 1-2 against Mainz 05. After the game, the coach Marco Rose was concerned about the energy loss of his team. Especially at the beginning of the game, Leipzig was able to show good energy and implementation of the game idea, but the impression quickly faded. "We conceded two simple goals, which makes it difficult against Mainz," said Rose after the game.

The first half began to be promising for Leipzig when Xavi scored 1-0 in the 2nd minute. But the joy did not last long, because despite many meetings and a clear domination in the first ten minutes, the team's forward movement decreased, which ultimately resulted in defeat. "A lack of dominance in the last ten minutes of the first half," remarked Peter Gulacsi, the goalkeeper of the Leipziger, and referred to the swing that Mainz developed in the second half.

turn in the second half

The second half saw a clear change. Mainz 05, under the direction of coach Bo Henriksen, found better into the game and equalized in the 52nd minute by Nadiem Amiri. "We did not let ourselves be influenced and continued," summed up Amiri, whose goals of the team flow into new life. Jonathan Burkardt then achieved the decisive 2-1 for Mainz in the 58th minute, which thus advocated fourth place in the Bundesliga and remains in the race for European places.

The performance of the Mainz in the second half was remarkable. In the 74th and 75th minute, Burkardt and Amiri just narrowly failed at the third goal, while the Leipziger tried to withstand the pressure. The number of spectators was 41,406. Overall, it was a happy victory for Mainz that demonstrated its continued good shape.

aftermath and future outlook

Dissatisfaction was clearly noticeable at Leipzig when Kevin Kampl emphasized the importance of defeat against a direct competitor after the game. "We have to understand that the season is difficult and stick together," he said. After the setbacks, Leipzig has to recover quickly because they will be at Freiburg next Saturday. Mainz, on the other hand, will travel to Gladbach on Friday, where you want to take the next important step in the fight for Europe.