No matter what happens this weekend, Mainz will spend the winter break at the bottom of the Bundesliga table. Despite that hard fact, the Rheinhessen will at least have European football to offer their fans in the coming 2026 calendar year. Heading into the Bundesliga’s 15th matchday, Mainz have still only won one solitary league fixture. In Europe, they’ve been a different beast.

Thursday night’s 2-0 home win over Samsunspor gave Mainz four wins in the Conference League this autumn. With the 2025/26 UEFA Europa Conference League group phase now complete, Mainz have finished 7th place in the table and will not have to contest the February playoff round. Come March, the Palatinate club will compete in the Round-of-16 phase of the competition.

Once again, the team was able to deliver its  fans a magical European evening. 

After the full time whistle, newly appointed FSV head coach Urs Fischer spoke of a “trying match that featured lots of suffering” when speaking to German broadcaster RTL. Mainz’s de-facto leader on the pitch – tapped by Fischer to serve up higher than usual in the No. 10 slot – didn’t exactly feel the same way. Nadiem Amiri led the FSV cheers in his usual trademark fashion.

Amiri simply had fun

“It was very important for me to come out and perform like this again today,” Amiri told RTL. “To finally feel fit and free. It’s a huge step for the club and for us [as a team] a small set in the right direction.“

Is Amiri a new penalty ace?

Amiri’s sunk the crucial 2-0 from the penalty spot shortly after the restart. The latest conversion makes it seven straight penalties for the club’s designated taker. The 29-year-old’s interviewer naturally wished to know if he modeled himself after Bundesliga record breaker Harry Kane. 

“Harry Kane is on a totally different level than me,” Amiri answered. “But he’s definitely a role model from whom I learn. I think I’m good at taking penalties, but I have to keep it up.“

Can Mainz pull off another 2020/21 style escape?

“I think today was by far our best performance of the season,” Amiri assured his interviewer. “We were organized on the ball and against the ball. sensational. We can build on this performance.“