1. FSV Mainz 05 beat RB Leipzig 2-1, delivering another Bundesliga surprise. Coach Urs Fischer has stabilized the team since taking over in December, banishing relegation fears. The side has collected ten points from five games since January.
- FSV Mainz 05 secured a surprising 2-1 win (1-1) at RB Leipzig in the Red Bull Arena on Saturday afternoon. Conrad Harder put the hosts ahead from the penalty spot, but Nadiem Amiri equalized in first-half stoppage time. Shortly after the break, Silas, who replaced the injured Benedikt Hollerbach, scored the winner in the 49th minute.
The success stems from coach Urs Fischer, who replaced Bo Henriksen in early December. Since then, there has been only one defeat in seven matches, compared to nine losses in the prior 13. The defense has improved markedly: from 24 goals conceded in 13 games without Fischer to just nine in the last seven. Fischer aimed to make his team "tireless, nasty, and compact," as he stated at his introduction.
Sporting director Nico Bungert praised in a Sky interview: "The wins are fun. We didn't have that too often in the first half of the season." He highlighted the newfound security on the pitch and added: "We can deal with the relegation battle at any time, if it comes. Playing such a start to 2026 – we're proud of that." Nadiem Amiri said: "Every game is a final for us right now. We treated this one like a final again. We delivered a top performance."
Before January, Mainz earned just eight points from 15 games (0.5 per game), signaling relegation trouble. Now, ten points from five matches (two per game) would project to Champions League qualification. Yet the team remains embroiled in the relegation fight. Fischer has a strong record against Leipzig: at Union Berlin, he won five of six encounters, all 2-1, and led the club to its first Champions League qualification.
This victory joins Mainz's biggest season surprises, following a 2-2 draw at Bayern Munich, where they also trailed 0-1.
