Like Hoffenheim, for example.
And Bayer Leverkusen.
Conversely, against teams that liked to hold possession and played at a slower tempo, like Bayern, Mainz always performed well.
Of course, this "well" was relative, and it was always predicated on burning through their stamina and going all out.
Their technique was inferior to their opponents; if they didn't outrun them, they might as well not play at all.
After the 20-minute mark, as Bayer Leverkusen's high press began to ease up slightly, Mainz was gradually able to push forward.
They started making more forays into Bayer Leverkusen's half.
And around this time, Mainz began to show signs of life.
For instance, they started sending more balls in from the wings.
These were all low, driven balls or waist-high long passes aimed at the center of the pitch upfield.
The results weren't great.
They were mostly intercepted by the opposing midfielders or full-backs tracking back in time.
