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After two weeks of Corona quarantine, Hertha BSC started the race to catch up in the relegation battle of the Bundesliga with a partial success.

The Berliners fought for a respectable 1: 1 (1: 1) in the catch-up game of the 29th match day at FSV Mainz 05 on Monday and moved up to two points on the 1. FC Köln on the relegation place.

Lucas Tousart gave the guests the lead in the 36th minute, which Phillipp Mwene (40th) equalized before the break.

With 35 points, Mainz remains in twelfth place eight points ahead of its rivals from the capital.

“The players fought.

Respect.

We are very happy with the point, ”said Hertha's coach Dardai after the final whistle.

After the most recent 2-1 coup against record champions Bayern Munich, Mainz coach Bo Svensson surprisingly changed his starting line-up to four positions.

Despite the personal castling, the home side dominated the game from the start and had the first chance early on from Stefan Bell (5th), whose header just missed the target.

Shortly afterwards, Jean-Paul Boetius had the lead twice.

First the Dutchman forgave from close range, then he just hit the crossbar.

Hertha takes the lead

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The two-week quarantine, in which only individual training was possible, was clearly noticeable to the Berliners, especially in the first half.

Against the aggressive Mainz team, the penultimate table, in whom ex-world champion Sami Khedira was back in the starting line-up for the first time since the end of February, initially only rarely made it forward.

FSV goalkeeper Robin Zentner only had to grab a direct shot from Matteo Guendouzi.

The Mainz team continued to have great opportunities.

Ádám Szalai (20th) failed free in front of the goal against Hertha goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow, who brilliantly represented Rune Jarstein, who had suffered from Corona.

Mainzer Ádám Szalai (center) is harassed by Herthas Niklas Stark (right)

Source: dpa-infocom GmbH

The FSV seemed to be in control of the situation, but was then caught freezing.

After a free kick from coach's son Marton Dardai, Tousart headed for the Berliners.

FSV defender Stefan Bell was previously lucky not to have to leave the field with a yellow-red after his second tough foul.

And it almost got better.

Matheus Cunha (39.) suddenly appeared free in front of hundredweight, but could not overcome the Mainz goalkeeper.

That took immediate revenge when Mwene equalized just a minute later with a magnificent 20-meter shot into the corner.

It was the Austrian's first Bundesliga goal.

Piatek missed the winner

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After the change, Hertha conquered more game shares.

The Mainz offensive was initially pretty fallow, while the guests played more courageously forward.

However, it was only a standard that resolved the rigidity in the penalty rooms.

After a corner, FSV captain Moussa Niakhaté screwed his best, but Schwolow parried the header just as brilliantly as a shot from Karim Onisiwo a little later from an acute angle.

Now there was more going on in the game.

Cunha checked Zentner in the Mainzer Tor with a flick, then substitute Krzystof Piatek missed the possible second Hertha goal from close range.