16.10.2016 17:38 h

Mainz down Darmstadt in Rheinland derby

Mainz moved up to seventh in the German league table on Sunday with a 2-1 win at home to local rivals Darmstadt in the Bundesliga.

Just 48 kilometres (30 miles) separates the two clubs in Germany's top flight and while Mainz are knocking on the door of the top six, the result leaves Darmstadt 15th in the table, just above the relegation places.

Argentinian striker Pablo De Blasis gave Mainz the lead at the Opel Arena with a brilliant flick after just five minutes to claim his fourth goal in seven league games this season.

Darmstadt were awarded a penalty just before the break when Mainz captain Stefan Ball fouled striker Antonio-Mirko Colak, but the Croatian forward had his spot-kicked saved by Mainz's Danish goalkeeper Jonas Loessl.

It was a busy first-half as both sides hit the crossbar.

Mainz doubled their lead when Turkey international Yunus Malli was brought down by Darmstadt captain Aytac Sulu, but got up to bang home the spot kick on 57 minutes.

Darmstadt scored a late consolation goal when Mainz substitute Niko Bungert, who came on in the 90th minute, gave away a penalty for handball which midfielder Jerome Gondorf gratefully converted in the 93rd minute.

Bayern Munich remain two points clear top of the Bundesliga table despite their 2-2 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday, which left the defending champions winless in their last three matches.

On Sunday night, unbeaten RB Leipzig have the chance to claim another big scalp in their debut season in the Bundesliga when they are away to Wolfsburg.

Having already beaten Borussia Dortmund and Hamburg, a win could see Leipzig claim second place in the table on goal difference from Cologne, who won 2-1 at Ingolstadt on Saturday.