VfB Stuttgart celebrates its fifth Bundesliga win in a row against Mainz 05. Both coaches are relying entirely on rotation after the European Cup week.
VfB Stuttgart defeated 1. FSV Mainz 05 2-1 (1-1) on the eighth Bundesliga matchday. Nadiem Amiri gave the 05ers the lead with a hand penalty (41st minute). Chris Führich equalized for VfB with the last action of the first half (45th + 4). Deniz Undav turned the game around for the Swabians in the final phase (79′).
“We wanted to bring in energy and I think we implemented that well – respect to everyone,” said Undav in the Sportschau interview after the final whistle. “It was also difficult for some players who have played less recently but showed a very good performance today.”
The Mainz team, however, was disappointed. “That’s our main problem at the moment: that we eat up goals that are too easy. And then it will be difficult, even if we actually had a decent performance on the pitch today,” said Philipp Mwene. “There are phases like that. I’ve already experienced a few of them here where things didn’t work out so well. But we always managed to get out of them.”
The two teams came out of the European Cup week with different moods. While VfB is had to concede a 1-0 defeat at Fenerbahce Istanbul in the Europa LeagueMainz had in the Conference League celebrated the second win in the second game against Zrinjski Mostar (1:0).
Both VfB and the 05er started with a completely new face. Stuttgart’s coach Sebastian Hoeneß changed to ten (!) positions compared to the Istanbul game, only keeper Alexander Nübel started again. The Swabians last had ten personnel changes within one season in 2000. Dan-Axel Zagadou celebrated his Bundesliga comeback with the Swabians after 13 months. And only four players remained from the Mainz starting eleven during the week: Robin Zentner, Kaishu Sano, Dominik Kohr and captain Silvan Widmer.
VfB captain Undav fails because of Zentner
Both teams started without much testing. The first offensive action belonged to VfB, but Danny da Costa cleared a cross from Pascal Stenzel for a corner (4th). At the other end, Jae-sung Lee placed a cross from Benedict Hollerbach next to the goal (5th). Stuttgart had more possession of the ball and tried to control the game. VfB became really dangerous for the first time when Jamie Leweling headed an arc towards the left corner, but keeper Zentner steered the ball over the crossbar (13th).
Mainz, on the other hand, mostly tried their luck on counterattacks with the offensive trio Hollerbach, Lee and Paul Nebel, but were unable to really surprise the Stuttgart defense. So the next chance presented itself to VfB: Chris Führich’s cross pass went via a detour to Deniz Undav. But the attacker who had led VfB onto the field was denied by Zentner from close range (19′).
Amiri remains ice cold
Meanwhile, it had been quiet in the Stuttgart Arena for a few minutes because there was a paramedic call in the guest block, as the 05ers announced on X. The Mainz team set the next tone on the field. A free kick cross from Nadiem Amiri was headed just past the far post by da Costa (23′). Shortly afterwards, Philipp Mwene hit the ball well over the goal from eleven meters (27th).
After about half an hour, VfB once again appeared dangerously in the penalty area. Stenzel got the ball at the far post and brought it sharply inside, after which Führich’s attempt was blocked (34′). The hosts’ pressure now increased, Zagadou’s header from a corner was a little too high (37′).
Führich counters with a dream goal
In the 39th minute, applause erupted in the stadium when it was announced that the person being treated from the Mainz block had been taken to the hospital for further treatment. Almost at the same time, Zagadou headed the ball from close range onto his teammate Chema’s outstretched arm. Referee Felix Zwayer was sent to the sidelines by VAR to take another look at the situation – and awarded a penalty for Mainz. Amiri didn’t miss the chance and scored to give the guests the lead (41′).
Celebrations in front of the VfB curve: Nadiem Amiri apologizes
Nadiem Amiri from 1. FSV Mainz 05 apologized for his goal celebration in front of the opposing fan curve after the game at VfB Stuttgart (1:2). “That wasn’t right in this situation. I would like to apologize to you for this behavior,” wrote the offensive player in an Instagram post addressed to the Stuttgart fans. During the Bundesliga game, a Mainz supporter was treated and resuscitated by paramedics for more than 20 minutes before he was taken to hospital, according to the club. Although the game continued while supplies were being provided in the stands, both fan camps temporarily stopped supporting them. Shortly after the stadium announcer gave the all-clear, Amiri scored with a hand penalty to give Mainz the lead and ran in front of the Stuttgart curve. “I was not aware of the extent of the situation at that moment, my cheering in your direction was not appropriate,” Amiri wrote.
VfB coach Hoeneß expressed his displeasure so clearly that he was subsequently shown a yellow card. Mainz withdrew after taking the lead and left even more of the midfield to VfB. Zagadou had the next opportunity again, testing Zentner with a 20-meter shot (45th). Then Chris Führich’s hour came. The left winger moved into the middle, took courage and shot the ball unstoppably into the far corner – a great goal (45th + 4). Mainz conceded at least one goal in the 19th league game in a row.
Hundreds of pounds demanded again immediately
Only 30 seconds had been played in the second period when Stenzel forced Zentner into the next save, the Mainz goalkeeper was able to direct the ball over the crossbar (46th). VfB now acted with more pressure than before the break, Mainz was primarily concerned with stability. Nevertheless, an opportunity arose after an advance by da Costa, but Nübel safely grabbed the defender’s low shot (55th).
In the 60th minute, the VfB fans called for a penalty after Stefan Bell hit Undav, but the attacker had previously been offside. Four minutes later, Leweling finished in the penalty area, but Dominik Kohr was able to block the ball at the last moment.
Lots of changes – Undav ice cold
The big time of change began, both coaches sent numerous new players onto the field. A good ten minutes before the end, VfB took the lead – and that was quite strange. Keeper Nübel played a long ball that no 05er could reach due to coordination problems. So Undav was able to rush towards Zentner on his own and leapfrog the goalkeeper. It was the DFB attacker’s first goal of the season.
The Swabians did not retreat after taking the lead, but continued to look for the way forward to make the decision. Mainz coach Bo Henriksen tried again with new personnel and brought in Nelson Weiper, the winning goal scorer in the game against Mostar. Nikolas Veratschnig, who was also a substitute, missed the chance to equalize with his header (90+1). In stoppage time, cross after cross flew into the Stuttgart penalty area, but Rheinhessen were no longer able to make it 2-2.
The win puts VfB in third place with 18 points. Mainz remain stuck in the relegation zone with four points.
VfB against Mainz goes into the next round
VfB and Mainz will face each other again on Wednesday. In the second round of the DFB Cup, the 05ers have home advantage, kick-off is at 6 p.m. In the Bundesliga, the Swabians face RB Leipzig next Saturday (3:30 p.m.). At the same time, Mainz welcomes SV Werder Bremen.
Broadcast on Sun, October 26th, 2025 9:45 p.m., SWR Sport, SWR
