Stuttgart secured a 2-1 victory against Mainz at the MHPArena in the final match of this weekend's Bundesliga action.
In the first of two encounters between the teams in a span of four days, Stuttgart took the lead with a decisive strike from Deniz Undav ten minutes before the final whistle.
The match began with Mainz adopting a defensive posture, aiming to frustrate Stuttgart while posing a threat on the counterattack. Stuttgart's first significant chance came when a deflected cross found Jamie Leweling, whose close-range header was expertly saved by Mainz goalkeeper Robin Zentner.
Shortly thereafter, Undav tested Zentner again, and Pascal Stenzel missed a shot at the back post, reflecting Stuttgart's mounting frustration. This frustration intensified five minutes before halftime when Mainz was awarded a penalty after Chema Andrés was penalized for handball. Captain Nadiem Amiri converted the penalty, giving Mainz an unexpected lead and ending Stuttgart's clean sheet streak at home in the league this season.
However, Stuttgart responded just before halftime. Chris Führich collected the ball on the left, maneuvered past several defenders, and scored a stunning equalizer, altering the momentum heading into the second half.
Stuttgart carried their momentum into the second half, dominating possession but initially struggling to create clear chances as Mainz defended resolutely. The breakthrough came ten minutes from the end when a long ball from Stuttgart's goalkeeper Alexander Nübel was not cleared effectively by the Mainz defense. Undav capitalized on the hesitation, scoring with a delicate finish over the advancing Zentner to put Stuttgart ahead.
In the closing moments, Mainz sought an equalizer, with substitute Nikolas Veratschnig coming closest with a looping header that went just wide. Despite seven minutes of added time, Mainz was unable to equalize.
This victory marks Stuttgart's fifth consecutive win in the league, placing them third in the standings ahead of a DFB-Pokal rematch against Mainz on Wednesday. Conversely, Mainz remains winless in five league matches and sits in 16th place, despite showing signs of defensive improvement.
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