MAINZ (DPA, CONVERSEER) – Danny da Costa’s comical own goal gave Borussia Mönchengladbach the three points in a 1-0 Bundesliga win at Mainz on Friday.
Gladbach thought they had broken the deadlock in the 17th minute as Maxim Leitsch fired against his own target, but the goal was ruled out due to a handball in the play.
But it was still thanks to an own goal that the guests will travel back home with a win.
Jens Castrop was denied by goalkeeper Daniel Batz from close range and from the resulting corner, Haris Tabaković’s header deflected off Da Costa’s back and fell into the goal in the 58th.
The win was a bright spot in Gladbach’s week after they were eliminated from the German Cup in a 2-1 defeat to St Pauli on Tuesday.
Ahead of the weekend matches, they are ninth with 16 points.
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Mainz, meanwhile, dismissed coach Bo Henriksen earlier this week, but the team couldn’t spark a reaction under interim boss Benjamin Hoffmann.
They haven’t won a game since their only league victory this season in September and are last in the Bundesliga table.
Leaders Bayern Munich visit Cup champions VfB Stuttgart on Saturday, when RB Leipzig host Eintracht Frankfurt. On Sunday, Borussia Dortmund welcome Hoffenheim, while SV Hamburg and Werder Bremen stage the first Northern derby in the Bundesliga since 2018.
