Mainz leapfrogged midtable rivals Freiburg in the Bundesliga with a 4-2 win at the Mainz Arena on Saturday.

Niko Bungert headed in Yunus Malli's corner in the 15th minute and Malli converted a penalty five minutes later to put Mainz two goals clear after Jhon Cordoba had been fouled by Caglar Soyuncu inside the area. Malli had to take his penalty twice as the referee saw too much encroaching on his first.

Vincenzo Grifo reduced the arrears midway through the second half when he lobbed the onrushing Jonas Lossl, but Stefan Bell restored Mainz's two-goal cushion with another header from a Malli corner.

Nils Petersen gave Freiburg hope heading into the final five minutes when he pounced on a mistake by Lossl to score, but Karim Onisiwo ensured there would be no late equaliser as he added Mainz's fourth with the final kick of the game.