FSV round out the season with three points

FSV Mainz 05 ended the 2025/26 season with a convincing performance and three deserved points, holding on to 10th place in the standings thanks to a 2-0 win away at 1. FC Heidenheim. The 05ers’ final two goals of the campaign came through Philipp Tietz early on and Nadiem Amiri shortly before the break. Both sides also struck the woodwork twice in an entertaining game.

The Mainz coaching staff made three changes from the side that began the defeat at home to Union Berlin. Daniel Batz returned between the posts for one final appearance in red and white, with Robin Zentner named among the substitutes. Kacper Potulski started in place of Danny da Costa, who had been carrying a knock during the week, while captain Silvan Widmer came in on the right for Anthony Caci – a day after extending his contract.

Tietz strikes early, Amiri doubles the half-time lead

The 05ers certainly did not start like a side with nothing left to play for. The visitors took the game by the scruff of the neck from the off, making their opponents chase the ball. Their bright start soon culminated in the opener, with Potulski driving powerfully down the left to the byline before crossing into the middle, where Tietz headed the ball over the line from barely a yard out for 1-0 to FSV (7’). Five minutes later, the striker came close to his second brace for the 05ers, but only found the crossbar from Nadiem Amiri’s free-kick delivery (12’). The hosts then had their first effort shortly afterwards, Marvin Pieringer flicking a cross on to Arijon Ibrahimovic, who took the volley on but missed the target by a yard or so (14’). The game became a little more open after that, with the hosts – who required a win – also seeing more of the ball. In the 23rd minute, Batz pushed Eren Dinkci’s well-placed effort round his right-hand post. Chances were now coming at both ends. After a long ball from Batz, Sheraldo Becker spun and was away, drove forward and shot from the edge of the box, but his effort was too central to beat Frank Feller (26’). Heidenheim responded on the half-hour mark with their best chance up to that point. Stefan Posch gave the ball away on the edge of his own box, allowing Budu Zivzivadze to lay it back to Pieringer, whose first-time strike ricocheted back off the bar (30’).

Mainz had to ride out that brief spell of pressure but struck again before the break. Amiri was first denied by the post after doing brilliantly to force his way into the box (36’). Seven minutes later, however, the 05ers’ top scorer was not to be stopped at the end of a lovely move. Becker initially sent Tietz in behind, and he unselfishly squared for Amiri, who had a clear route to his 12th goal of the campaign. Two minutes before the break, FSV had stunned Heidenheim again, and the two-goal lead remained intact through to half time.

FSV seal comfortable win after repeated saves from Batz

Da Costa replaced Posch at the break, while the hosts also made two changes in the hope of turning the game around. Omar Touré came on for Marnon Busch, and Christian Conteh replaced Pieringer. Heidenheim pushed for a way back into the game directly following the restart, but they had to remain alert at the other end. In the 51st minute, Becker teed up Amiri, whose effort from a tight angle hit the side-netting. Chances then came thick and fast. Jan Schöppner first headed against the bar (52’), before Feller prevented Potulski from adding a third at the other end (53’). For all of Heidenheim’s pressure, Mainz always looked more likely to score the next goal. Around the hour mark, they should have wrapped up proceedings when Amiri broke through down the left flank and crossed for Paul Nebel, who directed the ball goalwards but was denied by Feller, before Sano collected the rebound on the edge of the box and saw his effort blocked impressively just ahead of the line. After 68 minutes, the season came to an end for Widmer and Amiri, who made way for Caci and Jae-sung Lee. Four minutes later, FSV had another huge chance and continued to keep Heidenheim at arm’s length. Patrick Mainka first cleared a Kohr strike off the goalline, before Feller was alert again to deny Potulski. In the closing stages, after Nelly Weiper had replaced Tietz (84’), Zivzivadze was denied twice more by Batz, but Heidenheim were unable to apply any real sustained pressure and are relegated from the Bundesliga after three years. Mainz finish the season in 10th place with 40 points, having taken 28 points from 17 games in the second half of the campaign – the fifth-highest tally of all sides during this period.

While some of the 05ers, including already confirmed call-ups Lee for South Korea and Kaishu Sano for Japan, have the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico to come, the rest of the squad will begin their summer break on Sunday. Pre-season training starts in early July.