FSV Mainz 05 0 - 1 RB Leipzig Player Ratings: Willi Orban rated 8.5/10 as RB Leipzig Clinch a Cagey Affair

A moment of sheer quality from Johan Bakayoko was all that separated the two sides as RB Leipzig scraped a narrow 1-0 victory over FSV Mainz 05 at the Mewa Arena. This Bundesliga encounter was a tense, tactical battle rather than an end-to-end thriller. From our perspective, Leipzig just had that extra bit of class when it counted.

The game was largely defined by a resolute Leipzig defence. They built a wall that Mainz simply couldn't penetrate. What stood out to us was the sheer dominance of Willi Orbán, who seemed to win every header and tackle. Mainz huffed and puffed, particularly through the warrior-like Dominik Kohr, but they lacked the final ball to truly test the visitors.

The decisive moment arrived just before half-time. Bakayoko, who had rattled the post earlier, unleashed a brilliant strike from outside the box that left the keeper with no chance. It was a goal worthy of winning any match. Despite some late pressure from the hosts, Leipzig held on for a crucial three points on the road.

RB Leipzig Player Ratings vs FSV Mainz 05

Here are the RB Leipzig player ratings:

Goalkeeper

Péter Gulácsi - 7.0: A relatively quiet afternoon for the Leipzig keeper. He only had two saves to make, but his save to deny Nordin in the first half was crucial. Commanded his area well and his distribution was decent enough. A clean sheet is a clean sheet.

Defenders

Willi Orbán - 8.5: Our man of the match. An absolute monster at the back for Leipzig. He won 100% of his duels and made an incredible 23 clearances. From our perspective, he was simply unbeatable in the air and on the ground. A truly dominant defensive performance.

Ridle Baku - 6.5: A mixed bag from Baku. He was a willing runner down the flank and got into some good positions. However, he lost possession 25 times which is far too high. He needs to be tidier on the ball but his work rate was unquestionable.

David Raum - 7.0: Wore the captain's armband and led by example. He created four chances, a fantastic return for a full-back. Defensively he was mostly solid, though he was dribbled past a couple of times. A reliable performance from the skipper.

Castello Lukeba - 8.0: Formed a brilliant partnership with Orbán. He won 9 of his 11 duels and made 9 clearances. He looked composed on the ball and even popped up with a shot on target. A very mature and impressive display.

Midfielders

Antonio Nusa - 7.5: Looked like Leipzig's most dangerous player before he was forced off with an injury. He created a huge chance for Bakayoko and was a constant menace with his dribbling. It was a real shame his evening ended early, he was electric.

Johan Bakayoko - 7.5: The match-winner. His goal was a sublime strike from distance. He also hit the woodwork and was generally a threat. He did miss a big chance, but his stunning goal makes up for any shortcomings.

Nicolas Seiwald - 7.0: A quietly effective performance in the middle of the park. He broke up play brilliantly, evidenced by his six interceptions. He kept the ball moving and provided a solid shield for the back four. Hit the woodwork himself with a long-range effort.

Christoph Baumgartner - 6.5: A very busy performance, but one that lacked a bit of quality. He worked tirelessly and drew five fouls, showing his nuisance value. However, his passing in the final third was often wayward and he lost the ball too frequently.

Xaver Schlager - 6.0: His game was cruelly cut short by an injury just after the half-hour mark. He was doing a decent job before that, making a last-man tackle. Impossible to give a higher rating given the limited minutes.

Forwards

Rômulo - 6.0: It was a frustrating night for the striker. He fought hard but won only 43% of his duels against a physical Mainz defence. He got into good positions but spurned a couple of decent chances. Needed to be more clinical.

Substitutes

Ezechiel Banzuzi - 6.0: Came on for the injured Schlager and slotted into midfield without any fuss. Kept it simple and helped his team see out the win.

Yan Diomande - 6.0: Added fresh legs on the wing but didn't have a major impact on the game.

Conrad Harder - 6.0: Had a couple of half-chances after coming on but couldn't find the net. Looked lively.

Kevin Kampl - N/A: Brought on late to shore things up.

Assan Ouédraogo - N/A: A late cameo to waste time.

Manager

O. Werner - 7.5: His game plan worked to perfection. He set his team up to be defensively impenetrable and they executed it brilliantly. His side nicked a goal and then professionally managed the game. A classic away performance.

FSV Mainz 05 Player Ratings vs RB Leipzig

Here are the FSV Mainz 05 player ratings:

Goalkeeper

Robin Zentner - 6.5: Couldn't do a thing about Bakayoko's wonderful strike. He made a couple of routine saves otherwise. His distribution was a bit hit-and-miss, but he wasn't really at fault for the loss.

Defenders

Danny da Costa - 7.0: A solid and dependable performance. He was strong defensively, making three tackles and three interceptions. He was also composed in possession, rarely giving the ball away cheaply. One of Mainz's better performers.

Dominik Kohr - 8.0: Mainz's best player by a country mile. He was an absolute warrior in midfield, winning a staggering 16 duels and drawing 7 fouls. He was everywhere, breaking up play and trying to drive his team forward. A phenomenal individual effort.

Stefan Bell - 4.5: A day to forget for the veteran defender. He picked up a yellow card within seven minutes for a clumsy foul. He looked completely off the pace and was mercifully substituted after just 15 minutes. A really poor start.

Midfielders

Phillipp Mwene - 6.0: He worked hard down the flank but his final product was lacking. He created a couple of half-chances but often made the wrong decision. Substituted with 15 minutes to go.

Kaishu Sano - 6.5: A tidy performance in the heart of midfield. He kept possession well with an 82% pass accuracy. He also did his fair share of defensive work, winning a good number of his duels. A decent, if unspectacular, showing.

Nadiem Amiri - 6.0: The captain tried his best to make things happen, but it just wasn't his day. He took four shots but none really threatened the goal. We noticed he lost possession 18 times, which stalled many of his team's attacks.

Anthony Caci - 6.5: Showed some nice touches and created two chances for his teammates. He was neat and tidy on the ball. Seemed to run out of steam in the second half before being replaced.

Forwards

Arnaud Nordin - 6.5: Looked like Mainz's most likely source of a goal. He forced a good save from Gulácsi and was a threat with his movement. However, he was caught offside multiple times and was a bit wasteful.

William Bøving - 5.5: A very quiet game for the forward. He really struggled to impose himself on the match and was a peripheral figure. He only had 31 touches before being substituted after 65 minutes.

Nelson Weiper - 5.5: A tough evening against the colossal Leipzig centre-backs. He was dominated in the air, winning only 5 of his 15 aerial duels. He battled hard but was completely isolated for most of the game.

Substitutes

Andreas Hanche-Olsen - 6.5: Came on for the struggling Bell and helped to steady the ship. A solid and uncomplicated performance.

Armindo Sieb - 6.0: Brought on to add some spark but couldn't find a way through the Leipzig defence.

Silvan Widmer - N/A: Came on for the final 15 minutes.

Sota Kawasaki - N/A: A late introduction with little time to make an impact.

Nikolas Veratschnig - N/A: Another late substitute.

Manager

B. Henriksen - 6.0: His team showed plenty of fight, particularly in midfield. However, they looked toothless in attack and couldn't create any clear-cut chances. His decision to hook Bell early was the right one, but his attacking changes failed to make a difference.

Sportsdunia's player of the match is Willi Orbán.