Phillip Tietz's late heroics secured a vital 2-1 away victory for FSV Mainz 05 over 1899 Hoffenheim at PreZero Arena.
FSV Mainz 05 stunned 1899 Hoffenheim with a dramatic 2-1 victory. Phillip Tietz netted a decisive late goal for the visitors. The hard-fought win came at the PreZero Arena on April 4, 2026.
Hoffenheim, sitting fifth in the Bundesliga, aimed to solidify their European push. They entered the match on mixed form, reflected in their recent LDWLD streak. Meanwhile, 11th-placed Mainz arrived with renewed confidence, having enjoyed a strong WWDDD run.
Mainz struck first in the 13th minute. Phillip Tietz capitalized on a precise pass from Phillipp Mwene. He coolly slotted the ball past Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann to open the scoring.
Hoffenheim responded quickly, levelling the score just ten minutes later. Fisnik Asllani found the net in the 23rd minute. Brian Toure provided the assist for the home side's equalizer.
Mainz made an early tactical change following a yellow card for Dominik Kohr in the seventh minute. Kohr was replaced by Kacper Potulski in the 37th minute. Hoffenheim's Ozan Kabak also received a yellow card just before halftime, marking a tense end to the half.
The teams went into the break with the score tied at 1-1. Hoffenheim held significantly more possession. Mainz, however, showed clinical finishing despite creating fewer initial chances.
Hoffenheim pushed for a lead after the restart. Vladimír Coufal picked up an early second-half yellow card in the 47th minute. Coach Pellegrino Matarazzo introduced attacking changes around the hour mark, including Andrej Kramaric, seeking to break the deadlock.
However, Mainz remained resolute. Their disciplined defense absorbed the pressure. Goalkeeper Daniel Batz made crucial saves, including four stops overall, to keep his team in the game. He proved to be a standout performer.
The decisive moment arrived in the 79th minute. Phillip Tietz scored his second goal of the match. This powerful strike secured a memorable and hard-earned victory for Mainz. Two Hoffenheim players also saw yellow cards in quick succession after the goal.
Mainz’s victory defied possession statistics, where Hoffenheim controlled 61% of the ball. Mainz, however, generated a higher Expected Goals (xG) of 2.16 compared to Hoffenheim's 1.23. Both teams recorded five shots on target, highlighting Mainz's efficiency.
This upset victory is huge for Mainz, further boosting their position in the league standings and extending their impressive form. Hoffenheim will need to regroup quickly from this unexpected setback to maintain their European aspirations.
