FSV Mainz 05 secured a vital 2-0 away victory at Weserstadion, with early goals from Paul Nebel and Lee Jae-Sung deepening Werder Bremen's struggles.
FSV Mainz 05 delivered a crucial 2-0 victory over Werder Bremen at Weserstadion on March 15, 2026. Early goals from Paul Nebel and a second-half strike by Lee Jae-Sung sealed a dominant performance. Goalkeeper Daniel Batz played a vital role, earning a high rating.
Werder Bremen entered the match reeling from a poor run of form, having lost three consecutive Bundesliga games. Mainz, however, showed signs of improvement, coming off two draws and a win in their last five outings. Both teams desperately needed points to climb away from the lower half of the table. Bremen sat 13th with 25 points, while Mainz were 15th with 24.
Mainz struck early, silencing the home crowd. In the 6th minute, Paul Nebel fired home after an assist from Phillipp Mwene. This gave the visitors an immediate lead and set the tone.
Bremen attempted to respond, pushing for an equalizer. They struggled to convert their possession into clear chances against a well-organized Mainz defense. Leonardo Bittencourt then received a yellow card for roughing in the 38th minute, highlighting the home side's growing frustrations.
Werder Bremen went into the break trailing by a single goal. They needed to find a way to break down Mainz's resolute defense in the second half. Coach Ole Werner likely called for more attacking intent and precision from his squad.
Bremen made an immediate change, bringing on K. Topp at halftime for increased attacking impetus. However, Mainz quickly doubled their advantage. In the 52nd minute, Lee Jae-Sung clinically finished, assisted by Sheraldo Becker, extending Mainz's lead to 2-0.
A flurry of cards followed as the intensity rose. Lee Jae-Sung received a yellow card for tripping in the 62nd minute. Bremen's J. Stage then picked up a yellow card in the 63rd minute, meaning he will miss the next match due to suspension.
Werder made further substitutions, bringing on J. Malatini, Y. Sugawara, and Patrice Čović in an attempt to spark a comeback. Mainz also made changes to maintain control and defend their lead, seeing out the result comfortably.
Despite Bremen's 66% ball possession and 16 total shots, only 3 were on target. Mainz, with 34% possession, were more clinical, scoring twice from just 2 shots on target out of 11 total. Mainz's goalkeeper Daniel Batz made 3 crucial saves, earning an 8.3 rating. Bremen's expected goals (xG) of 0.87 compared to Mainz's 1.08 highlighted the visitors' efficiency.
This victory lifts Mainz's spirits and provides crucial breathing room in the Bundesliga standings. For Werder Bremen, another defeat at Weserstadion deepens their relegation worries and extends their losing streak.
Werder Bremen faces a challenging fixture next weekend, needing a significant turnaround in performance. Mainz will look to build on this vital win as they continue their fight for survival, carrying new momentum forward.
