Götze's goal secures Frankfurt 1-0 win against Mainz

Mario Götze scored his first Bundesliga goal of the season to give Eintracht Frankfurt a hard-working 1-0 win against Mainz on Friday.

"Important three points, not our best game, we can do better. Today unfortunately we didn't play well," the 2014 World Cup champion told broadcasters DAZN.

Götze looked to be offside as he controlled Willian Pacho's deflected shot in front of the goal, but there was also a deflection off a Mainz player beforehand.

Goalkeeper Robin Zentner blocked Götze's first attempt, but couldn't stop the midfielder's header from the rebound in the 73rd. The goal stood after a lengthy video assistant review.

Frankfurt remained sixth in the standings, just two points from the qualification zone for the Champions League ahead of the weekend matches.

"It was a very tough game, there were hardly any goal chances. But Friday evening, winning at home, against Mainz, of course is something great," Frankfurt keeper Kevin Trapp said.

For Mainz, this was their eight consecutive winless Bundesliga game.

They are 16th, already in the drop zone, and can be overtaken by Cologne and Darmstadt if they avoid defeat in their respective games against Wolfsburg and Union Berlin.

"Today was a typical 0-0 game, but we were unlucky that Karim (Onisiwo) had this one chance but didn't score for us, then we would lead 1-0," Mainz midfielder Dominik Kohr said.

The game marked Peter Fischer's farewell from Frankfurt fans. After more than 23 years in office, he will not stand for re-election at the club's general assembly on February 5. Frankfurt's next home game is after the elections, on February 10.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you, take care, family. Stay the way you are. See you soon, take care," Fischer said to the fans, with tears in his eyes, before the game.

Trapp said of the outgoing president: "There were very beautiful moments with him. Eintracht Frankfurt is Peter Fischer and Peter Fischer is Eintracht Frankfurt."

During Fischer's term, Frankfurt reached the German Cup final four times, winning it in 2018, and won Europa League in 2022.