Football news - Leipzig twice waste lead to slump to 3-2 loss at Mainz

There was an upset in the Bundesliga on Saturday afternoon. RB Leipzig were dealt a blow as they chased their first German title. They were victims of a surprise 3-2 defeat to Mainz, which gives Bayern Munich the chance to pull away.

RB Leipzig's title race suffered a shock setback on Saturday after they twice wasted a lead to slump to a 3-2 loss at strugglers Mainz 05 and fail to close the gap on leaders Bayern Munich.

Second-placed Leipzig, who have now won just one of their last four league games, are on 35 points, four behind Bayern, who face Schalke 04 on Sunday and could further pull away. Leipzig next face Bayer Leverkusen.

"The title is not in our minds at all," Leipzig defender Willi Orban said. "What we have to do is make sure we stay in touch with the top spots. That's hard enough.

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"This was the first match of the second part of the season. It is a small setback, definitely, and not that what we had imagined."

In a rollercoaster first half, Tyler Adams struck on the rebound in the 15th minute when keeper Robin Zentner pushed a Marcel Sabitzer shot onto the crossbar only for the ball to fall to the American, who scored his maiden Bundesliga goal.

Moussa Niakhate then equalised from close range after keeper Peter Gulacsi had saved a header from a free kick.

French defender Niakhate drew the home side level again in the 35th after Marcel Halstenberg's goal on the half hour mark, as Leipzig's defence showed huge gaps once more.

The hosts took the lead in the second half with Leandro Barreiro slipping into the box to flick in after Danny Da Costa superb solo run and cross.

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"I found a great team yesterday and it seems one training was enough to find my place," said Da Costa, who joined Mainz on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday.

"If there is a plan that everyone follows it does not matter how long you have been here. We had an outstanding team performance over 96 minutes. If play like that and give it all then we have a chance (to stay up)."

Mainz' second win of the season was not enough to lift them out of 17th place, but they moved to within five points of the relegation playoff spot.

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