Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-4 FSV Mainz 05: Martel and Da Costa seal comeback win
Mainz beat Borussia Mönchengladbach 4-3 in a seven-goal thriller, with Machino's late penalty not enough for the hosts.
- Mainz led through Tietz and Becker, Gladbach hit back with Neuhaus and Lidberg
- Martel and Da Costa struck late for Mainz before Machino's 90'+5 penalty
- Gladbach remain bottom with 0 points, Mainz move up to 7
Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-4 FSV Mainz 05
Scorers: 11' Neuhaus (Gladbach), 18' Tietz (Mainz), 45'+1 Becker (Mainz), 59' Lidberg (Gladbach), 78' Martel (Mainz), 89' Da Costa (Mainz), 90'+5 pen. Machino (Gladbach)
The match
Borussia Mönchengladbach made the perfect start, taking the lead in the 11th minute through Florian Neuhaus, set up by Lukas Ullrich. Mainz responded quickly, levelling in the 18th minute via Phillip Tietz, assisted by Sheraldo Becker. Ullrich picked up a yellow card in the 19th minute. Right on the stroke of half-time, in first-half stoppage time, Mainz turned the game around as Becker scored again, this time assisted by Anthony Caci, making it 1-2 at the break.
Early in the second half, two yellow cards were shown in the 55th minute, to Stefan Posch and Philipp Sander, with a VAR check involving Sander. Two minutes later, Gladbach had the chance to level from the penalty spot, but Kevin Diks missed. The hosts still found their equaliser in the 59th minute through Isac Lidberg, again assisted by Ullrich, making it 2-2.
Neuhaus was booked in the 62nd minute and was replaced by Wael Mohya two minutes later. Mainz made a double substitution in the 65th minute, bringing on Danny da Costa and Eric Martel for Caci and Jae-sung Lee. After a yellow card for Phillipp Mwene in the 73rd minute, both sides made further changes between the 76th and 84th minutes.
Mainz went back in front in the 78th minute through substitute Eric Martel, assisted by Kaishu Sano, making it 2-3. Danny da Costa added a fourth for the visitors in the 89th minute. Deep into stoppage time, in the 90th+5 minute, Gladbach pulled one back through a penalty converted by Shuto Machino, but there was no time left for a full comeback. Several more yellow cards followed in the closing minutes, shown to Machino, Kacper Potulski, Ransford Königsdörffer and Alexander Schwolow.
The numbers
- Shots: 21-17 in favour of Borussia Mönchengladbach
- Shots on target: 7-8 in favour of Mainz
- Possession: 47%-53% in favour of Mainz
- Corners: 6-4 in favour of Borussia Mönchengladbach
- Fouls: 12-14 in favour of Mainz
- Yellow cards: 6 for Gladbach, 5 for Mainz
Standings and next fixtures
Mainz move up to 7 points from 4 games (2 wins, 1 draw, 1 defeat) and sit sixth in the table. Borussia Mönchengladbach remain on 0 points after 4 matches, bottom of the table, having scored 6 and conceded 16.
At the top, Borussia Dortmund lead with 12 points, ahead of Bayern Munich and Freiburg on 10 each, with Augsburg on 7.
Next up, Borussia Mönchengladbach travel to face FC Köln on Sunday 11 October 2026 (kick-off 15:30 CET / 14:30 UK time). Mainz host Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday 10 October 2026 (kick-off 15:30 CET / 14:30 UK time).
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