Mainz travelled to Dusseldorf knowing that a win would lift them into sixth place in the Bundesliga.
It did not start well for them as Bo Svensson nodded into his own net looking for a backpass, which left them with work to do against a well-drilled Dusseldorf.
Ivan Klasnic nodded in the equaliser from under the crossbar, but in the second half neither side was able to create the telling chance to win and the points were shared.
Read below how the action unfolded with our live commentary.
Hello all and thanks for joining me for the second game in our Bundesliga double-header.
Not much time before kickoff, but I'll get the teams across now.
DUSSELDORF XI: Giefer; Van den Bergh, Balogun, Malezas, Latka; Tesche, Bodzek; Bellinghausen, Lambertz, Kruse; Schahin
MAINZ XI: Wetklo; Pospech, Svensson, Noveski, Zabavnik; Baumgartlinger; Malli, Zimling, Ivanschitz; Klasnic, Parker
Mainz have arguably more to play for in this one, as they can move up to sixth with a win. It's certainly an attacking lineup from them, with Dusseldorf slightly more conservative as they hope to not be drawn into the relegation places below them.
The teams are ready for kickoff. Mainz will get us underway.
Klasnic is starting his first game since last May for Mainz. An interesting tactical decision, will it pay off?
CLOSE! Kruse has the first effort of the game. It's deflected from range and reall not very far away at all. I think Wetklo was beaten. Nothing comes from the corner.
Dusseldorf look to break quickly from a Mainz corner, but Kruse is crowded out. It's been a bright start for the striker, though.
GOAL! Dusseldorf 1-0 Mainz (Svensson o.g.)
Oh dear. Svensson thinks Wetklo is on his line as he tries to head back to his keeper, but Werklo is not there and he can't hack it off the line in time. Dusseldorf get the goal their bright start has merited.
Mainz just can't get into it at the moment. They're being panicked into rushed passes by the Dusseldorf pressing, which is working to perfection.
Mainz are having a shade more of the possession at the moment. They've settled a bit now since the goal but still look toothless near the hosts' third.
The visitors are sticking to their passing principles, which is good. They're refusing to just lump it upfield. So far Dusseldorf have done their research and are dealing with the threat. However, it is only 13 minutes in so there's plenty of time and Mainz realise this.
BOOKING: Mainz do well to work a corner. From it the hosts break and Bellinghausen is sent flying by Zabavnik. Clear yellow.
First shot on target for Mainz there, from Zimling. He shot from quite a way outside the box along the ground, so it was easy for Giefer. The keeper will be happy if all Mainz's efforts come from that range.
BOOKING: Mainz continue to look for the slow buildup from the back. Dusseldorf, likewise, continue to harry and press up the field. They find a gap and Latka brings down Klasnic just outside the box. He was through otherwise.
Poor effort from the free kick from Parker. He went around the wall to the goalkeeper's side but either way it was well over the bar.
Kruse is still a yard of pace ahead of Mainz. He's brought down by Baumgartlinger but the free kick comes in and goes straight to Wetklo's arms.
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Parker is brought down by Van den Bergh. The cross comes in towards Svensson but it misses everyone and goes out for a goal kick. Great delivery though by Ivanschitz.
SAVE! Latka meets the corner, but directs his header at Wetklo. The goalkeeper doesn't deal with it all that well, can't gather and fortunately for him Mainz hack clear. A good chance that.
CHANCE! They come forward at pace when they attack, Dusseldorf, but off the ball they're getting men behind the ball. Again they break and Bellinghausen is in down the left but just puts his effort wide!
I have to say the Dusseldorf game plan has been played to perfection so far. It's really good to watch, too, is fast counter-attacking football. It all stems from solidity at the back and they've had plenty in this opening half an hour.
Zabavnik is down and it looks nasty. There was a clash of heads in the air and he fell nastily too. Pospech has come out of it ok.
Zabavnik surely cannot continue. Caliguri will have to come on for him, but it's not announced yet.
The game gets back underway and Dusseldorf continue to be on top. They're passing neatly around the back.
Marco Caligiuri does indeed come on.
GOAL! Dusseldorf 1-1 Mainz (Klasnic)
On his full Mainz debut, Klasnic will probably not get an easier goal in his career. Caligiuri does really well on the left to get a cross in from the byline. Giefer flaps at it and tips it into the path of Klasnic who heads in on the goal line. Mainz level.
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It's slightly dodgy keeping at the other end as well. The cross comes in from Bellinghausen and he pushes it away, fortunately to a teammate.
Dusseldorf again break at pace, through Kruse again. This time Pospech does well to clear for a throw in what was a dangerous looking attack.
There will be two minutes of time added on at the end of this excellent first half.
It's now Mainz in control really. Though Dusseldorf have sat back for much of the game they are now getting fewer chances to break and Mainz's passes are more effective now.
HALF-TIME: Dusseldorf 1-1 Mainz
The referee whistles slightly early and ends a really good half of football. Dusseldorf went deservedly ahead, albeit through a Bo Svensson own goal, but Mainz passed their way back into the game and levelled with their only really good chance of the half. There are more goals in this one.
Really Dusseldorf can be disappointed that they aren't ahead at the break. Their game plan worked perfectly for nearly 40 minutes and in truth it was an error from Giefer that let Mainz back in.
Despite Mainz being second-best, I fancy them to go on to win this one now. I don't think either manager will look to the bench just yet, as this next 15 minutes could be crucial.
Just a couple of minutes now until we get underway. Dusseldorf will need to keep up their tempo and not let the equaliser deflate them. After the goal Mainz were on top, but the majority of the half I give to the hosts.
I was wrong about subs. Klasnic is off for Nicolai Muller. We're back underway.
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Mainz have started the half by taking control of the possession. Dusseldorf aren't pressing them as high as they were in the first half. That could be crucial.
It's much better from the visitors, but they still lack a bit of penetration in the final third. Muller has taken up a position slightly deeper than Klasnic plays and has been involved quite a bit early on.
However there's still a real threat on the break from the hosts. Bellinghausen is away down the left with a ball over the top. He cuts back but Pospech clears. That could have ended so much better for Dusseldorf.
CHANCE! A deep corner comes in and Bodzek meets it beyind the far post. He heads it across goal but a blue shirt heads away instead. They've finally come to life in this half, Dusseldorf.
Now Dusseldorf are even on top of possession. The string together some passes among the back line for the first time in the half but it leads to nothing.
SAVE! Good save from Giefer, if a little spectacular. Caligiuri tries to bend it in from the edge of the box but it's tipped over well.
There's a real sense of excitement whenever Dusseldorf burst forward. Bellinghausen links up well with Kruse, and the striker shoots wide of the near post.
DUSSELDORF SUBS: Tesche and Schahin are off for Bolly and Rafael.
Bellinghausen's corner bounces around in the box before Malezas toe-pokes it over the bar.
CHANCE! Rafael should be scoring! Bellinghausen splits the defence with a superb angled ball over the top and Rafael slashes at it, putting it wide of the near post.
It's a bit more even now this one, although the hosts look most likely to make something happen. They've won a corner off Caligiuri.
Now Mainz get a spell of possession, but it leads to nothing as Giefer gathers. With just over 20 minutes left can either side get on top of this one and claim the points? At the moment it looks unlikely.
Ivanschitz, who has been quiet, swings in a disappointing free kick. Dusseldorf look to break from it but Mainz are strong at the back and come away with the ball again.
BOOKING: Muller goes into the book for a slightly over the ball tackle. There was no intent, but still potentially dangerous. Not enough for a red.
Bellinghausen is brought down once more, this time Pospech. He's been by far the game's best player.
CHANCE! Bellinghausen whips in the free kick. It goes to the near post area, gets a flick but Rafael just cannot turn it into the net. It goes through for a goal kick.
Kruse goes for goal from just outside the box, but it's straight at the keeper. Just dying down a little bit. I was convinced there'd be a third goal but it currently looks unlikely.
All the action is happening in the middle of the park at the moment. It's mainly Mainz with the possession, but they're unable to get through and get any real chances on goal. Since the first 10 minutes of the half they really haven't created much.
MAINZ SUB: Parker, who has been somewhat anonymous, makes way for the league's fourth-highest scorer, Szalai. He has 10 minutes to have a say.
Lambertz goes into the book and Mainz have a free kick in a dangerous place.
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They work it really well with Ivanschitz peeling away from the back post, but Baumgartlinger's delivery just wasn't good enough and they didn't find him. It's a shame, as it looked a good move.
A shot from Ivanschitz is deflected through to Giefer. That's the first time he's been able to work something from the hole. Credit must go to the Dusseldorf defence for that.
There's very little intensity in this game now. Mainz are pressing more now than Dusseldorf, but the hosts seem happy for this to end 1-1.
BOOKING: Another free kick comes in and Dusseldorf clear to Rafael, who fouls Svensson and goes into the book for a loud display of dissent.
DUSSELDORF SUB: Lambertz, who has run a marathon today, comes off for Finks.
FULL-TIME: Dusseldorf 1-1 Mainz
A point is just about fair, although Dusseldorf could well see this as a chance missed. Somewhat scrappy overall, but entertaining nonetheless.
that's all from me. Thanks for joining us for this afternoon's Bundesliga action. I hope you enjoyed it and be sure to stick with us for reaction and analysis of all today's football. Goodbye.
Written by
Matt Domm
Matt Domm
