Lennard Maloney couldn't prevent Mainz from losing away to Craiova in the UEFA Conference League. - © IMAGO/Fotostand / Racocha

bundesliga

Mainz lose at Universitatea Craiova in UEFA Conference League

27.11.2025

Mainz dropped their first points in this season's UEFA Conference League after losing 1-0 to Craiova in Romania.

Craiova 1-0 Mainz
Goals: 1-0 Al Hamlawi (pen. 67')

Mainz defender Dominik Kohr had the best chance of a cagey first half, but could not direct his header from a corner on target.

Craiova got the breakthough after the restart when Mainz debutant substitute Kacper Potulski miscued a clearance, instead catching an opposition player and conceding a penalty. Substitute Assad Al Hamlawi calmly dipatched the ensusing spot-kick past Lasse Rieß, who had replaced the injured Robin Zentner in the first half.

Potulski thought he'd rescued a point in the 89th minute, but his header was ruled out for offside following a lengthy VAR review. Silvan Widmer shot wide as the 05ers' run of three straight games to start the league phase was ended.

Bo Henriksen's team visit Lech Poznań on 11 December, before hosting Samsunspor in their final league-phase fixture a week later.

See Mainz's Europa League fixtures and results here!

Recap the action against Craiova below...

1 - 0

(0 - 0)

Craiova

FINAL

Mainz

Conference League
League phase, Matchday 4 League phase, Matchday 4 Ion Oblemenco Stadium, Craiova

90'

+ 4

Full-time: Craiova 1-0 Mainz

Mainz fall to their first defeat in this season's Conference League. Al Hamlawi's second-half penalty decided a cagey affair, though Potulski did have a late equaliser ruled out for offside. The 05ers stay on nine points, with league-phase games against Lech Poznań and Samsunpor to come.

Full-time

90'

+ 4

Substitution

Nikola Stevanovic

Anzor Mekvabishvili

90'

+ 4

Wide!

Widmer receives the ball from Potulski on the right of the area, but drives his shot wide. Was that the chance?

90'

+ 2

Yellow card

Pavlo Isenko

90'

Five added minutes

The momentum's with Mainz - can they find a goal?

89'

+++ Disallowed goal +++

No, it won't. Potulski is deemed to have been in an offside position.

89'

Will it count?

The Mainz debutant heads in an Amiri free-kick, but this'll be checked by the VAR...

89'

Kacper Potulski

GOAL!

1:1

86'

Denied!

Two of the Mainz subs combine as Potulski meets Nebel's corner, but the teenager's header is too close to the goalkeeper.

82'

Substitution

Alexandru Cretu

Tudor Baluta

82'

Substitution

Samuel Teles

Alexandru Cicaldau

78'

Huge chance!

Bancu runs clear of his marker and crosses into the penalty area for the unmarked Al-Hamlawi, who puts his shot wide. Massive let-off for Mainz!

77'

Pushing

Mainz have upped the intensity, winning a couple of corners in quick succession. They need to maintain this level if they're to turn the game around...

74'

Fresh legs

Sano for Maloney in a straight swap in central midfield. Can the Japan international help the 05ers wrestle back the initiative and get a result?

73'

Substitution

Kaishu Sano

Lennard Maloney

72'

Yellow card

Nicușor Bancu

67'

Instant impact!

The substitute sends Rieß the wrong way from the spot to put Craiova in front.

67'

Assad Al Hamlawi

GOAL!

1:0

65'

Penalty!

Cicâldău goes down under Potulski's attempt to clear a ball into the box, and the referee points to the spot...

64'

Substitution

Assad Al Hamlawi

Steven Nsimba

64'

Substitution

Monday Etim

Ștefan Baiaram

62'

Double change

Henriksen sends on Jae-sung Lee, who scored in the win over Fiorentina, and the creative Paul Nebel. Nordin worked hard, but had little support, while Bobzien was unable to influence the game.

61'

Substitution

Paul Nebel

Arnaud Nordin

61'

Substitution

Jae-sung Lee

Ben Bobzien

61'

Offside

Manz try to spring the offside trap, but the home defence catch out Nordin. They've been really in sync so far tonight.

57'

Handball

Amiri, who's been a little subdued by his standards, is cautioned for handling the ball.

57'

Yellow card

Nadiem Amiri

54'

No way through

Nordin tries to create something from out wide, but his cross is cut out. Henriksen might be thinking about a change or two...

50'

More of the same

We've already seen a few more of those niggling challenges early in the second period. This game could use more of a creative spark. It's very cagey...

46'

Mainz debut

Kacper Potulski makes his senior Mainz bow, the 18-year-old defender replacing Bell, who was on a booking. Will we see a goal in the second half?

46'

Substitution

Kacper Potulski

Stefan Bell

Kick-off!

45'

+ 4

Half-time: Craiova 0-0 Mainz

Goalless at the break, but Henriksen will be content with his team's showing. They've played with industry and created a couple of decent openings without giving too much away at the other end. The only downer has been that injury to first-choice goalkeeper Zentner.

45'

+ 3

Yellow card

Ștefan Baiaram

45'

Added time

Into the first of three added minutes in Romania...

44'

Sweeper-keeper

Isenko races out to stop Nordin getting on the end of a long ball. It's risky from the goalkeeper, but he does his job.

41'

First Craiova booking

And it's the defender Rus for a foul on the bustling Nordin. Nothing meaningful comes of the ensuing free-kick from Amiri, though.

41'

Yellow card

Adrian Rus

39'

Decent chance

It's Cicâldău with the corner that finds Mogoș, who puts his effort wide of the target. The home fans were expecting more...

34'

Mainz on their toes

Craiova have stepped things up in recent minutes. They're being more adventurous with the ball and drawing plenty of niggling fouls from the men in red.

29'

Possession game

Henriksen's side continue to enjoy more of the ball, but they're not playing with too much urgency in the final third - not that a very well-drilled Craiova outfit are allowing them much space to exploit.

26'

Close!

Kohr attacks a cross from Amiri, the Mainz defender drawing a strong save out of Isenko in the Craioiva goal. That looked for a moment like the back of the net was going to ripple!

25'

Zentner blow

The Mainz No.1 has pulled up with a muscular complaint and can't continue. Mainz youth product Lasse Rieß, 24 comes on to make his fourth appearance of the campaign.

24'

Substitution

Lasse Rieß

Robin Zentner

20'

Even contest

There's precious little between the blues of Craiova and the reds of Mainz so far. It's certainly been a competitive watch...

17'

Half chances

Baiaram warms the palms of Zentner, before Mainz threaten again as Nordin fires over from a tight angle.

12'

Yellow card

Stefan Bell

12'

Away promise

A prolonged spell of Mainz pressure ends with Hanche-Olsen having a shot from an Amiri corner blocked.

From downtown!

Băluţă spots Zentner off his line, but the Mainz goalkeeper gets back in time to claim the ball in front of his goal line.

Tenacious start

Plenty of effort in the early stages, alongside some niggling fouls on both sides. That'll please the two head coaches.

Under way!

The hosts have never beaten German opposition in UEFA competition - let's hope it stays that way!

Kick-off!

Atmosphere building

Plenty of noise inside Craiova's humble abode. At full capacity, it can pack in a smidge over 30,000 spectators. Kick-off is imminent...

Table talk

Mainz are one of three sides on maximum points in the Conference League ahead of Matchday 4. They're behind Samsunspor of Türkiye and Slovenia's Celje on goal difference, with the top eight teams qualifying automatically for the round of 16. Places 9-24 go into the play-offs; the bottom eight will be eliminated.

Amiri the talisman

Mainz's biggest threat so far in 2025/26 has come from midfield - specifically Nadiem Amiri. The Germany international has registered seven goals and two assists in all competitions.

Trio overdue goals

Bobzien's yet to score in five appearances for Mainz, while Nordin hasn't fired in 18 since his January switch from Montpellier. Summer signing Bøving is also goalless in his 10 outings for the club. Will the new-look forward line deliver tonight?

More on those teams

Henriksen makes five changes to the team that started the 1-1 draw with Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga last Friday. Defender Stefan Bell, midfielder Nikolas Veratschnig and the attacking trio of Ben Bobzien, Arnaud Nordin and William Bøving all come in, with the likes of Kaishū Sano and Benedict Hollerbach dropping to the bench. As for the hosts, Steven Nsimba has been chosen to lead the line in one of four changes to their recent league trip to Pitești.

Mainz starting line-up

Zentner - Kohr, Bell, Hanche-Olsen - Widmer (c), Maloney, Amiri, Veratschnig - Bobzien, Nordin, Bøving

Mainz subs

Rieß, Batz, Sano, Lee, Nebel, Sieb, Hollerbach, Da Costa, Kawasaki, Gleiter, Weiper, Potulski

Craiova starting line-up

Isenko - Romanchuk, Rus, Screciu - Mogoș, Mekvabishvili, Băluță, Bancu (c) - Cicâldău, Baiaram - Nsimba

Craiova subs

Lung, Popescu, Stefan, Crețu, Al Hamlawi, Etim, Houri, Badelj, Samuel Teles, Băsceanu, Matei

Filipe Coelho on facing Mainz

“We’re facing an extremely tough match, against a very strong team, with a very good coach and players of great quality. But we are working hard to prepare for this game, so we’ll be ready to step onto the pitch tomorrow and get a good result. It’s very important that the stadium is full and that the supporters are on our side tomorrow evening. Mainz are one of the most difficult teams we could face at this stage of the competition, but at the same time it’s a very good challenge for us."

Home turf

Tonight's venue is the impressive Ion Oblemenco Stadium, which, with a capacity of 30,983, is the fourth largest stadium in Romania.

Bo Henriksen on facing Craiova

"We are approaching the task that awaits with a great deal of respect and know that a tough challenge lies ahead of us in Craiova. Nevertheless, we know the quality we possess and want to make it a positive experience."

Who are Craiova?

Universitatea Craiova finished third in Romania's SuperLiga last season. That's exactly where they sit 17 games into the new campaign, three points behind leaders Rapid București, after winning 2-1 at Argeș Pitești on Friday. Like Mainz, they took the play-off route to the Conference League proper, beating İstanbul Başakşehir 5-2 on aggregate. They've since lost at Czechia's Raków (2-0), drawn with Noah (1-1) and won away to Rapid Wien (1-0). French striker Steven Nsimba is their eight-goal top scorer in all competitions so far in 2025/26.

Perfect in Europe

In stark contrast to their Bundesliga struggles, Mainz have been flying in Europe. After overcoming Rosenborg in the two-legged play-offs, Bo Henriksen's side have recorded successive wins over Omonoia, Zrinjski (both 1-0) and Fiorentina (2-1).

2:03

Mainz 1-1 Hoffenheim - highlights

Substitute Danny da Costa's late effort rescued a point against Hoffenheim on Friday. The result kept the 0rers off the bottom off the table and within two points of safety following a difficult start to the domestic campaign (W1, D3, L7).

Welcome!

Welcome along and thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of Mainz's Conference League encounter away at Universitatea Craoiva on Matchday 4 of the league phase, which kicks off at 6.45pm CET on Thursday.