Another surprise team close on the heels of Hannover was indisputably Mainz. Tuchel´s team was consistently placed in the leading group throughout the season. The minnows amazingly set a blistering pace at the start of the season by winning no fewer than all their opening seven matches. It was at that point that Dortmund took over the leadership and Mainz gradually began to slip down a few rungs. Oddly enough, they had an exceptionally poor start to 2011 following the winter break and it was surprising they managed to remain in the leading group. They did though, and ultimately shook off a late challenge from Nuremberg for the final place in the leading group. Mainz will now have a place in the Europa League next season which is quite an achievement for Tuchel´s modest outfit. The tireless Andre Schurrle turned out to be match-winner on numerous occasions in a most successful season for the minnows and he bagged 15 goals into the bargain. When things didn’t go according to plan, Christian Wetklo proved to be one of the best goalkeepers in the Bundesliga.
