Lucas Höler secured a vital victory for SC Freiburg at the Mewa Arena, handing FSV Mainz 05 a narrow 0-1 defeat in a tight Bundesliga clash.
Entering this fixture, Mainz sat ninth in the table, hoping to build on their recent form. Freiburg arrived just one spot higher in eighth, looking to bounce back after a difficult run of results.
The first half proved to be a cagey affair as both sides struggled to find a rhythm. Discipline became a concern early on for the visitors, with B. Ogbus picking up a yellow card in the 33rd minute.
As the interval approached, the tension on the pitch increased significantly. M. Eggestein and J. Schuster both received cautions in stoppage time, leaving Freiburg with a defensive challenge for the second half.
Neither side managed to break the deadlock before the whistle blew. The teams headed into the locker rooms level, knowing a single moment of quality could decide the match.
The second half exploded into life immediately after the restart. Just two minutes in, Lucas Höler found the breakthrough, silencing the home crowd with a precise finish to put Freiburg ahead.
Mainz attempted to respond quickly, but the visitors held firm under pressure. N. Veratschnig entered the referee’s book in the 55th minute for a tactical foul as Freiburg looked to protect their slim advantage.
The hosts pushed hard for an equalizer in the final stages. However, Höler, who had already provided the decisive goal, found himself cautioned in the 73rd minute while battling to maintain the lead.
Despite Mainz controlling 51 percent of possession and recording 10 total shots, they failed to convert their chances. Goalkeeper Daniel Batz remained alert, denying the hosts on two critical occasions to preserve the clean sheet.
Statistically, the match was incredibly close. Mainz finished with an expected goals (xG) of 0.63, slightly higher than Freiburg’s 0.57, but the visitors proved more efficient when it mattered most.
Stefan Posch stood out for the hosts with a strong defensive display, winning six tackles throughout the 94 minutes. Yet, the lack of a cutting edge in the final third ultimately cost Mainz a point.
This result elevates Freiburg slightly in the standings, keeping them firmly in the hunt for European places. Meanwhile, Mainz will need to regroup quickly after failing to capitalize on their home advantage.
