Mainz blow three-goal lead in Hoffenheim draw

Berlin (AFP) – Mainz threw away a three-goal lead in a thrilling 4-4 home draw against Hoffenheim as Werder Bremen lost 2-1 to Augsburg to stay bottom of the Bundesliga on Sunday.

Mainz, who meet French side Saint-Etienne in Europa League action Thursday, looked on course for a rout with a Pablo De Blasis double on 3 and 23 minutes followed by another from Jhon Cordoba on 27.

Sandro Wagner reduced the deficit for Hoffenheim on 39 minutes with Levin Oztunali getting the hosts’ fourth two minutes before the break.

French defender Gaetan Bussmann was sent off after the break and his absence derailed the hosts with Mark Uth netting twice in the space of two minutes (71, 72) with Adam Szalai getting the equaliser on 84.

In Bremen, the arrival of Serge Gnabry from Arsenal failed to lift the northerners who remain rock bottom after two games with eight goals conceded and the future of Ukrainian coach Viktor Skripnik in doubt.

Bayern Munich remain top after Friday’s 2-0 win at Schalke, ahead of Hertha Berlin on goal difference with both teams on a maximum six points.

Meanwhile, Bayern Munich’s French international striker Kingsley Coman has been declared fit again and trained Sunday ahead of the Bavarian outfit’s Champions League Group D opener with Russians Rostov in midweek.

The gifted 20-year-old injured an ankle when kicked by teammate Javi Martinez three weeks ago and was carted away on a stretcher, but he is now available for Tuesday’s home European game. 

“A decision over whether he plays or not will be taken on the day,” the club said on Sunday. 

Although Bayern boast Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Mueller in attack, Coman’s movement and touch offer an alternative and unpredictable threat. 

At the same training session Sunday Dutch winger Arjen Robben and German defender Jerome Boateng both carried out light workouts, although the pair will not feature against Rostov.