Mainz ended Borussia Moenchengladbach's unbeaten start to the Bundesliga on Sunday as left-back Aaron Martin scored a second-half winner in a 1-0 victory.
Gladbach could have gone level on points with third-placed Bayern Munich and Union Berlin with a win at Borussia Park, but were made to pay for Ko Itakura's red card in the 53rd minute.
Spaniard Martin curled the resulting free-kick into the top corner and Mainz held on to move above their opponents into fifth place.
Earlier on Sunday, Hertha Berlin won for the first time this season with a 2-0 success at Augsburg as Dodi Lukebakio and Marco Richter found the net.
Freiburg lead the early table on goal difference from Borussia Dortmund, after previous pace-setters and reigning champions Bayern were held to a 1-1 draw by Union on Saturday.
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