Captain Widmer and colleagues are making history: FSV Mainz 05 is in the round of 16 of a European Cup for the first time in the club’s history. At the end of the league phase, the bottom of the Bundesliga won 2-0 (1-0) in the Conference Lauge against the Turks from Samsunspor led by German coach Thomas Reis.
Captain Silvan Widmer (44th) and returnee Nadiem Amiri scored for Mainz with a hand penalty (48th). The FSV thus avoided the detour via the playoffs. The round of the best 16 is scheduled for March 12th and 19th, 2026.
“I tried to tweak a few things at the beginning,” said the new Mainz coach Urs Fischer shortly before kick-off on “RTL”: “We need stability. If we get that on the pitch, then I’m confident.” Sports director Christian Heidel assumed “a game at eye level”: “It will be a close story.”
Amiri has the early lead
Under Fischer’s direction, the Mainz team had two draws in two competitive games before the Samsunspor game – most recently the surprising 2-2 at Bayern Munich. Against Samsunspor, Fischer was again able to rely on national player Amiri, who was recently missing due to injury. On the other hand, the suspended Nikolas Veratschnig and the injured Sota Kawasaki, Robin Zentner and Phillipp Mwene were missing.
In the first few minutes, the hosts were anxious to be secure on defense. Amiri still had the lead (11th). After the great chance, the Mainz team took control, Amiri once again caused danger with a free kick (14th). The lead for Rheinhessen was in the air at this stage.
Things got strange in the 24th minute – the Turks should have taken the lead. But instead of pushing the ball into the almost empty goal, Carlo Holse hit his own teammate Emre Kilinc, who “cleared” just before the goal line for Mainz.
Video: First a brilliant act, then offside: Mainz’s defense is lucky
Shortly afterwards, Mainz were very close to the first goal again, Amiri missed again (30th). After a counterattack, Widmer broke the spell with a well-considered finish before the break.
Mainz facing a “six-point game” in the Bundesliga
At the beginning of the second half things continued to go according to Mainz’s wishes. Amiri raised from the point. Afterwards, the FSV even came close to scoring their third goal. The Turkish fans then provoked several short interruptions in the game by setting off pyrotechnics.
In the last game before the winter break, FSV has the extremely important Bundesliga basement duel with third-from-bottom FC St. Pauli on Sunday (3:30 p.m./DAZN). Mainz, who won their only national victory three months ago, are four points behind Hamburg.