Mainz and Heidenheim held in Bundesliga restart, Freiburg win

Bottom club Mainz blew a two-goal advantage in a 2-2 draw at Union Berlin and second-last Heidenheim failed to hold on a lead twice in a draw with the same scoreline against Cologne in the Bundesliga restart on Saturday.

Mainz seemed on course from Nadiem Amiri in the first half and former Union player Benedict Hollerbach in the 69th but headers from Jeong Woo-Yeong in the 77th and Danielho Doekhi extended their winless run to 12 matches.

Hollerbach did not celebrate his goal out of respect for his former club, and the game also saw new Mainz coach Urs Fischer return to Union which he had led into the Bundesliga in 2019 and into the Champions League in 2023.

In Heidenheim, Marvin Pieringer gave the hosts a 15th-minute lead with an artistic volley and Julian Niehues made it 2-1 in the 36th in a scramble.

But Cologne hit back from Eric Martel's header in the 18th and a deflected shot from young star Said El Mala which looped over goalkeeper Diant Ramaj in the 48th. The visitors then missed several chances as their winless run now stands at seven matches.

In the other game, Freiburg came from behind to beat 10 man SV Hamburg 2-1 in snowy conditions and climb into the top half of the standings.

The visitors led from Luka Vuskovic's header three minutes after the restart but it all unravelled when Daniel Elfadli was dismissed for a second bookable offence when he clipped Lucas Höler in the area.

Vincenzo Grifo converted the ensuing penalty in the 63rd, and Igor Matanovic got an 83rd-minute winner from short range in the 83rd.

The late game is a duel for top four places between number three Bayer Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart, who are three points behind in sixth.

St Pauli v RB Leipzig and Werder Bremen v Hoffenheim were cancelled owing to winter weather.

The Sunday games are Borussia Mönchengladbach v Augsburg and runaway leaders Bayern Munich v Wolfsburg. Eintracht Frankfurt drew 3-3 with second placed Borussia Dortmund on Friday.