Mainz exit Conference League after rampant Strasbourg display

Mainz exit Conference League after rampant Strasbourg display

Mainz are eliminated from the Europa Conference League after a 4-0 defeat to Strasbourg. The 05ers won the first leg with two first-half goals, but they were unable to compete at the same level with the French side away from home. However, it’s still the best run by a Bundesliga club in the competition inaugurated back in the 2021/22 campaign.

Mainz were under immense pressure from the first whistle as Strasbourg levelled the tie with their own two first-half goals. Sebastian Nanasi and Abdoul Ouattara marked their returns to the starting lineup with excellent finishes in the space of ten minutes.

A couple of minutes after his brilliant save from Diego Moreira’s acrobatic effort, Daniel Batz conceded the first goal of the night with Nanasi’s close-range strike from Ben Chilwell’s cross. The second goal came from the other flank as Ouattara was left unmarked to head home Julio Enciso’s delivery.

Former Strasbourg defender Arsene Wenger celebrated the leveler alongside the club’s president, Marc Keller, from the stands. The hosts created several chances to take the lead in the tie before the half-time break, including Batz being forced to make another decent stop from Enciso’s attempt.

As expected, Urs Fischer acted quickly with a half-time substitution to introduce the fit-again Nadiem Amiri in place of . Mainz started the half in a slightly better form before it all unraveled in front of their eyes after 20 minutes.