In the first match under new coach Urs Fischer, 1. FSV Mainz 05 managed only a 1:1 draw against Lech Poznań in the Conference League. A controversial penalty and a red card marked the game. Despite playing with ten men, Mainz held on for the draw.
- FSV Mainz 05 faced Polish champions Lech Poznań in the Conference League and started promisingly under new head coach Urs Fischer. The team began focused and gave the opponents few defensive chances. The first impulses came from the early substitute Sōta Kawasaki, who scored 1:0 for Mainz in the 28th minute.
Shortly after, however, Kawasaki fouled, and referee Andrei Chivulete awarded a controversial penalty. Michael Ishak converted the kick to make it 1:1 in the 41st minute. In the second half, Mainz pressed for more but failed to score again. Then Nikolas Veratschnig received a yellow-red card in the second period and had to leave the pitch.
With ten men, the Mainzer successfully defended the draw in the final 25 minutes. Goalkeeper Daniel Batz praised the performance: “We have defied all adversities. Holding out for 25 minutes with ten men in our situation is outstanding.”
In the Conference League, Mainz shows stronger form with three wins from five games than in the Bundesliga, where the team is at the bottom of the table. Early December, previous coach Bo Henriksen was sacked. Fischer, last at Union Berlin until 2023, thus debuted without a win.
Next challenge: On Thursday against Samsunspor Kulübü for direct entry into the round of 16, and on Sunday in the Bundesliga against league leaders Bayern Munich.
