Sandro Schwarz continued the upward trend with Hertha BSC when he returned home – but missed a win by just seconds.
At the start of the 7th matchday, the Berliners drew 1-1 (1-0) at FSV Mainz 05 and thus gained some air in the relegation zone. Anthony Caci (90+3) scored late in injury time to equalize for Mainz.
After their false start, the Berliners have now been unbeaten for three games. Born in Mainz, Schwarz coached the Rheinhessen professional team from 2017 to 2019. Lucas Tousart (30th) gave him hope of a dream return, but Caci struck right before the final whistle. Mainz saved their series of seven unbeaten duels with Hertha, but at the same time are still waiting for their first home win of the season.
Black was excited for his first return. “With all things in life, you never know how it will be the first time,” he said with a smug smile. Despite all the ties to the Rheinhessen, it is important to be at Hertha “with all my heart and mind”. In his starting XI, he only replaced former Mainz players Jean-Paul Boetius and Suat Serdar (infection) in the 2-2 draw against Leverkusen.
Mainz 05 have been lacking ideas for a long time
In front of 25,300 spectators, a very combative game developed from the start. Both teams were defensively gripping in the duels, but the offensive mood was limited. Long passes and the subsequent hunt for the second ball were usually the means of choice. However, that didn’t bring any danger in the last third for a long time.
A 25-meter shot by Karim Onisiwo (18th) five meters over the Hertha box was initially the only overture. But then the first ball on a goal was in the net, Tousart nodded a completely free cross from Chidera Ejuke with a touchdown. As a result, the capitals gained slight advantages, Ejuke (41st) forced Zentner to make a strong save.
Even after the break, without the injured Jonathan Burkardt, Mainz lacked ideas and power, a header from Leandro Barreiro (64th) was no problem for Oliver Christensen. Hertha now withdrew even further, completely waiting for a counterattack.