Late Goal from Paul Nebel Gives Mainz a Thrilling Win Over Frankfurt in Rhine-Main Derby
Mainz winger Paul Nebel emerged as the standout player by netting both goals for the home team, including a crucial strike in the 89th minute. This victory allows Mainz to extend their lead over the relegation zone to nine points.
Mainz 2-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
Scoring Summary: 1-0 Nebel 6’ (assist: Becker), 1-1 Brown 20’ (assist: Bahoya), 2-1 Nebel 89’ (assist: Weiper)
Mainz maintained their strong performance under coach Urs Fischer, achieving a thrilling 2-1 win against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Rhine-Main derby. The 05ers have only suffered two losses in the last 13 Bundesliga matches, amassing 21 points to distance themselves from relegation concerns.
Coming off a midweek victory in the Conference League against Sigma Olomouc, Mainz made one adjustment to their lineup, substituting Sheraldo Becker in for Nelson Weiper. Frankfurt, missing the suspended defender Robin Koch, had Arthur Theate step in as captain.
Nebel opened the scoring early in the sixth minute with a shot that took a decisive deflection off Frankfurt’s Theate, edging past goalkeeper Michael Zetterer.
Hosts Strike First
Displaying great energy, Mainz took an early lead just six minutes into the match. Becker found Paul Nebel open, whose shot from inside the box deflected off Theate, putting it past Zetterer.
Frankfurt quickly regrouped and found an equalizer in the 20th minute when Jean-Mattéo Bahoya made a dynamic run down the left flank, delivering a pinpoint cross that Nathaniel Brown headed home against his former team.
Both teams had their chances to score as Mainz nearly reclaimed the lead when Kaishu Sano struck just off target from the edge of the box after a corner. Later, in the 37th minute, after winning the ball, Sano set up Becker, whose shot was expertly saved by Zetterer.
As the first half closed, Frankfurt threatened again with a header from Theate off a corner by Chaïbi, but it was saved by Daniel Batz. Frankfurt dominated possession after halftime but struggled to create significant scoring opportunities against a well-organized Mainz defense. Batz made another crucial save when Chaïbi’s powerful header hit the crossbar in the 61st minute.
Excitement in the Final Minutes
As the match neared its conclusion, both teams sought a late winner. Becker almost put Mainz ahead in the 84th minute, rattling the posts with his left-footed shot that fortuitously avoided crossing the line.
However, just before the end of regular time, Mainz struck gold. A header from Nelson Weiper off a cross was parried by Zetterer, but Nebel was perfectly positioned to seize the rebound, sealing a dramatic victory and igniting celebrations at the MEWA Arena. Despite eight minutes of added time, Frankfurt failed to respond, allowing Mainz to secure the much-needed derby win.
Paul Nebel: Player of the Match
The 21-year-old Nebel was instrumental for Mainz, scoring both goals in their vital 2-1 win. His keen finishing for the initial goal, aided by a deflection, showcased his instincts, while his late winner highlighted his positional awareness for the rebound.
Apart from his goal-scoring exploits, Nebel consistently posed a threat through his dynamic movement and direct style, recording three shots on target in total. His impressive work rate was evident, having covered over 13 kilometers during the match—more than any other player. His two goals enabled Mainz to distance themselves from the relegation zone, earning him the well-deserved Player of the Match honor.
Match Statistics:
xGoals: Mainz 1.55 – Frankfurt 1.2
Fastest player: Jean-Mattéo Bahoya (Frankfurt), 33.83 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 1-0 by Paul Nebel (Mainz), 9.7 percent
Most pressed player: Arnaud Kalimuendo (Frankfurt), pressured 19 times
Pass efficiency: Farès Chaïbi (Frankfurt), +2.8
Fantasy Heroes: Paul Nebel (Mainz 05, 369 Points), Daniel Batz (Mainz, 201 Points), Michael Zetterer (Frankfurt, 201 Points)
