1. FSV Mainz 05 earned their points, and victory, of 2016 as they managed a solitary goal in a 1-0 victory over André Schubert's Bourssia Mönchengladbach, courtesy of a first half Christian Clemens strike.
The Foals from Mönchengladbach had firstly dominated the opening forty five minutes, yet it was Martin Schmidt's side who broke the deadlock after the Schalke man, Clemens, rounded off a well worked counter attacking move. Indeed, 66% of Christian Clemens 2015/16 Bundesliga goals have come against the Borussia Park side.
Despite a renewed effort in the second half, Borussia Mönchengladbach slipped to a second consecutive domestic defeat after last weekends 3-1 loss at the hands of Borussia Dortmund. This was mainly due to the heroic efforts of Loris Karius, as well as Stefan Bell and the rest of the Nullfünfer defence, who combined produced some fine defending.
The Swiss, Schmidt, had made only one change to the side defeated 1-0 at FC Ingolstadt 04 last weekend; with Yoshinori Muto coming in for Jhon Cordoba. André Schubert on the other hand, made two changes from the side defeated against Thomas Tuchel's side; in came Martin Hinteregger and Jonas Hofmann for Nico Elvedi and Mahmoud Dahoud.
The fantastic win lifts the Karneval club into the Europa League places and within only two points of their opponents on the night, Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Karneval game created by both parties
Customary to how we have become accustomed under André Schubert, it came as no surprise that the visiting Borussia Mönchengladbach started the game on the front foot and had Martin Schmidt's Mainz penned back within their own half. However when posed with the threat of the die Fohlenelf attackers the Mainz defence, Stefan Bell and the improvised Leon Balogun in particular, were an equal match to all Raffael & co could offer.
The 1. FSV Mainz 05 attacking quadruplet had been starved of the ball within the opening, and had done the majority of their work within their own final third. Yet when gifted the chance of an attack, they weren't as undecesive as their counterparts from North Rhine Westphalia; Jairo Samperio working the ball well before dragging an effort just wide of Yann Sommer's upright.
However, it was food for though for Schubert's side. Indeed, die Nullfünfer posed a serious concern towards their own goal. The highly sought after duo of Yunus Malli and Yoshinori Muto, have scored a combined fifteen goals between them and were looking to add to their total against the visiting Foals.
Håvard Nordveit, lately linked with Borussia Dortmund, had Borussia Mönchengladbach's best early chances - unfortunately for the Norwegian his header was straight at Loris Karius.
The hosts were growing into the game, and it came as no surprise that they took the lead. Some slack defending opened up space for Christian Clemens to release a long range effort; matched by some equally slack, flat footed goalkeeping the curling strike nestled into the far corner of the Swiss' Sommer's net and sent the Karneval crowd at the Coface Arena into scenes more adept for an actual Carnival.
Incidently, it was the FC Schalke 04 loanee Clemens first goal in over 300 minutes, or a month of play. His drought well and truly over, in some style. An already task for die Fohlenelf, looking even harder; Martin Schmidt's eleven almost unbeaten after taking the lead, with seven wins from eight after opening proceedings.
The goal had completely shook Borussia Mönchengladbach, nor more so than the central defence partnership of Martin Hinteregger and Andreas Christensen. The Austrian hasn't looked entirely convinving since his January switch from Red Bull Salzburg, in the games prior to Friday's meeting. Die Fohlenelf, Borussia Mönchengladbach did nearly however nearly acheive the archetypal hit and run - Raffael letting fly and forcing Karius into a good save, after a stereotypical 'Gladbach counter attack on the cusp of the break.
Strength in defence is enough for Mainz
The second period resumed in familiar style to how the first had been played, yet Borussia Mönchengladbach seemed to have recovered from the Christian Clemens goal and looked a much stronger challenge to die Nullfünfer than the team, which had ended the first half proceedings.
Both sides exhanged early second half shots, which both goalkeepers were equal to. Fabian Johnson for the Foals from Mönchengladbach, whilst Clemens against threatened for Mainz. The USA international, Johnson, was playing in a rather unusual position by his standards (which are varied in nature) in the centre of midfield.
After the early half flurry of chances, both teams appeared to cancel eachother out and in terms of an attacking entity the game seemed to grind to a halt; although it wasn't through a lack of trying.
But as is the topsy turvy nature of the Bundesliga, it came as no surpise when the game was completely turned on its head and just as the match had started Borussia Mönchengladbach were on the offensive once more and pushing for the much coveted equaliser - Primarily due to introduction of Branimir Hrgota, whilst Johnson move to his more accustomed left midfield berth.
In a matter of moments, the 1. FSV Mainz 05 defence cleared a series of shots from the die Fohlenelf attack, each of which seemed destined to haul the away side level and relieve the nerves of the large travelling support. Loris Karius, not wanting to be outdone by his defensive colleagues producing a simiarly heroic effort as he glided across the goal to block a goalbound effort. The former Manchester City 'keeper has performed superbly this season, that has drawn him both plaudits and potential transfer suitors alike.
The sheer strength of the die Nullfünfer defence seemed to de-motivate 'Gladbach prospects of clawing back an equaliser, despite the introduction of both Josip Drmic and earlier Thorgan Hazard. Infact, it was Schmdit's side that looked the more likely to add to their own tally; Balogun and Clemens wasting opportunities to add gloss to a final score that was well deserved for the Coface Arena side.