Bundesliga: Mainz and Union in the heat with a weak zero number

Immediately after the final whistle, the exhausted professionals from Mainz 05 and Union Berlin were quickly drawn into the shadows. And everyone was happy that the goalless football battle in the heat was finally over.

“We knew it would be a fighting game. But that it would be so disgusting…” said Mainz striker Karim Onisiwo, who remained pale this time after a brace last week and just longed for a cool down. “In any case, it’s going into the ice bin, I’m looking forward to it.”

Teams miss dream start

Meanwhile, Union’s temporary captain Rani Khedira seemed a little disappointed that he couldn’t show his brother Sami – world champion of 2014 – more spectacles. “I would have liked to have offered every fan a more attractive game, but life is not a request concert,” Khedira classified after the largely dreary zero number. Both clubs missed a perfect six-point start after the victorious start, but can be quite satisfied with the four points they scored.

“We implemented the things I asked for well,” said Mainz coach Bo Svensson. While the 05ers missed the chance of the first six-point start in nine years, Union is happy about the best start to the season in the young Bundesliga history. “It was a tough game. It certainly wasn’t too nice. But I’m actually happy with the coach,” said coach Urs Fischer, who was happy with the draw: “We’re very happy to take the point home.”

Hardly any chances to score – the heat sucks

Apart from set pieces and attempts from distance, there were more drinking breaks (one) than clear chances to score (zero) in the first 45 minutes. “These are tropical temperatures, so strength will play a role,” said Mainz sports director Christian Heidel before the kick-off at DAZN.

That’s how it happened. The sun was beating down on the lawn, and the muggy weather was giving the professionals at both clubs a hard time. “In the middle of the second half it was difficult to get up again. I prefer to play at ten degrees less,” said Union defender Robin Knoche.

Credit for defense

Not only was there a lack of precision and power, but also of assertiveness on the offensive. Recently, newcomer Jordan Siebatcheu had forgotten the migrated Taiwo Awoniyi with two important goals at Union Sturm. This time Siebatcheu kept a low profile while Awoniyi scored the Premier League winner for Nottingham Forest. “You can see that not everything is working yet,” said Fischer.

Mainz, on the other hand, will soon get their top scorer from last season back: Jonathan Burkardt, Onisiwo’s strike partner, is currently out with a muscle injury. “Of course there would have been more scenes with him,” said Onisiwo.

Sports director Martin Schmidt explicitly praised the defense, which allowed almost nothing – and added: “We have to be more powerful on the offensive.” The four points are “a good and solid start without getting euphoric,” explained Schmidt.