Hamburger SV stretched their unbeaten Bundesliga run to six matches after battling to a 1-1 draw with 1. FSV Mainz 05, who have themselves suffered just two defeats in 12 games across all competitions since Urs Fischer took charge.
Mainz began brightly on home soil, pressing with intent and looking the more dangerous in the early exchanges.
However, Hamburg gradually imposed themselves on the contest, slowing the tempo and gaining control of possession.
The visitors carved out the first clear openings. Warmed Omari tested Daniel Batz with a driven effort from the edge of the box, but the Mainz goalkeeper reacted sharply to push it away.
Robert Glatzel then had a sight of goal, only to direct his attempt too close to Batz, reinforcing the feeling that Hamburg’s missed opportunities could come back to haunt them.
That fear materialised just before the interval. A purposeful surge down the right by Danny da Costa ended with a dangerous delivery into the six-yard area.
Nadiem Amiri met it with a cleverly hooked volley that nestled inside the far post, marking his seventh goal in as many Bundesliga appearances and handing Mainz a somewhat unexpected lead.
After the break, though, the hosts struggled to build on their advantage. Hamburg began to dictate play, while Mainz grew increasingly ragged, conceding cheap fouls.
Dominik Kohr walked a disciplinary tightrope and was fortunate to avoid a second booking.
Hamburg’s leveller ultimately arrived from a set piece born of that indiscipline. From around 25 yards out, Fabio Vieira attempted to sneak a low free-kick under the wall.
The ball struck Phillipp Mwene and deflected awkwardly beyond the wrong-footed Batz, squirming into the net for 1-1.
Both teams pushed for a winner in an open finale. Sheraldo Becker came closest for Mainz, his looping volley drifting narrowly wide of the far post.
In the end, a share of the spoils felt fair. Hamburg’s current streak represents their longest unbeaten spell in the Bundesliga since 2011 under Thorsten Fink, though a looming encounter with RB Leipzig will test that resilience. For Mainz, their improved run continues to ease relegation concerns, with only one defeat in their last five outings.
