Mainz picking up momentum ahead of European push

After a difficult start to the 2025/26 campaign, Mainz are finally hitting their stride with Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt extending their impressive unbeaten Bundesliga run.

The 05ers’ latest triumph stretched their unbeaten streak to five games in Germany’s top flight - Mainz’s longest run since they went six games without defeat between February and March last year.

Successive wins over Werder Bremen and Frankfurt have lifted Urs Fischer’s charges nine points clear of the automatic relegation zone to put breathing space between themselves and 17th-placed Wolfsburg, with three of their remaining seven games against teams below them in the table.

Watch: Mainz 2-1 Eintracht Frankfurt - highlights

Unbeaten in seven games across all competitions, Fischer’s men appear to be picking up steam at just the right time with a maiden European quarter-final looming large on the horizon.

A 2-0 aggregate win over Czech side Sigma Olomouc set up a UEFA Conference League last-eight clash against French outfit Strasbourg, who finished top of the competition’s league phase earlier this term.

However, given Mainz’s superb form, you would be brave to bet against them proving too strong for the Ligue 1 outfit over two legs - and perhaps even going all the way to the final.

Urs Fischer lead Union Berlin into the UEFA Champions League in 2023. - IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Marcel von Fehrn

The appointment of Fischer - who replaced Bo Henriksen late last year - has proven a masterstroke.

The Swiss tactician, who has lost just two of his 18 games in charge since his arrival in December, masterminded a 2-2 draw against runaway leaders Bayern Munich in his first game at the helm - a result which turned out to be a springboard.

Now comfortably clear of danger, Mainz will look to take another step towards Bundesliga safety when they visit high-flying Hoffenheim after the international break.

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