Werder Bremen finished the season on a high after coming from behind to beat Mainz.

Mainz 1-2 Werder Bremen

Goals: 1-0 Gbamin (12'), 1-1 Kainz (23’), Gebre Selassie (79’)

Mainz had the better of the opening exchanges, and took the lead after more impressive play from rising star Ridle Baku. The 20-year-old worked a one-two down the right and, although his cross was partially cleared to the edge of the area, Jean-Philippe Gbamin arrived at pace to sweep a well-controlled, first-time shot towards goal. Werder Bremen netminder Jiri Pavlenka got a hand to it, but could not deny Gbamin his first goal of the season. The visitors forced several corners, but instead it was Maximilian Eggestein's sweeping low centre from open play that led to the equaliser. Thomas Delaney couldn't get on the end of it, but Florian Kainz slid in at the back post to cleverly stab home his third goal of the campaign. An injury to Sebastian Langkamp disrupted Bremen's rhythm, however, and Mainz striker Yoshinori Muto - with a header and a volley - twice went close in the final minute of the half.

The visitors started the second half strongly, with Max Kruse dragging a shot narrowly wide of Florian Müller's goal before seeing the 05ers' keeper adjust brilliantly to keep out his deflected free-kick thanks to an outstretched right foot. Mainz responded well though, and Levin Öztunali thumped the ball off the bar at the other end. Bremen looked more likely to find a winner late on, and from their seventh corner Theodor Gebre Selassie met Kainz’s delivery at the far post to give them the lead. Muto hit the post in injury-time, but the visitors held on for their fourth away win of the season.

Match stats

Bremen ended a run of five games without victory by winning in Mainz for the fourth time in succession.Czech international Gebre Selassie scored three goals this term. His team picked up seven points in the three matches he scored in.  Mainz had won nine points from a possible 12 in the previous four games to ensure their safety.Baku had scored two goals in two games for the 05ers since being thrust into first-team action against RB Leipzig on Matchday 32.Muto finished as Mainz’s top scorer this season with eight goals – a personal best for the Japanese.Bremen stopper Pavlenka had saved 77 percent of shots on his goal this season before this game – no keeper in the league has a better record.

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Line-ups

Mainz: Müller – Donati (Quaison 80'), Brosinski, Bell (c), Hack – De Jong (Maxim 52'), Gbamin, Baku – Öztunali (Holtmann 62'), Muto, De Blasis
Unused subs: Dahmen, Ujah, Onisiwo, Bungert
Absentees: Adler (knee), Balogun (rib), Bungert (thigh), Berggreen (match fitness)
Coach: Sandro Schwarz 

Bremen: Pavlenka – Gebre Selassie, Langkamp (Gondorf 40'), Friedl, Augustinsson – M. Eggestein, Bargfrede, Delaney – Rashica (J. Eggestein 67'), Kruse (c), Kainz (Junuzovic 85')
Unused subs: Drobny, Bauer, Zhang, Moisander
Absentees: Bartels (Achilles tendon), Johannsson (ankle)
Coach: Florian Kohfeldt

As it happened