Terrier scores on comeback in thrilling 4-3 win against Mainz

Head coach Kasper Hjulmand made three changes to the side that started in the 2-0 win over 1. FC Union Berlin before the international break. Captain Robert Andrich, who was a substitute against Union, replaced Jarell Quansah on the right side of the back three for his 150th start in the Bundesliga. Arthur was preferred to Lucas Vázquez on the right flank and Jonas Hofmann made his first start of the campaign in place of Malik Tillman in attacking midfield.

Grimaldo at the double - Hofmann busy

Hofmann was immediately involved, forcing a brilliant save out of Mainz goalkeeper Lasse Rieß after being teed up by Ernest Poku. Shortly after that, the 33-year-old popped up in the penalty box again and this time he could only be stopped by a foul. Alejandro Grimaldo grabbed the ball and buried the penalty into the bottom right corner to open the scoring after 11 minutes. Bayer 04 remained the dominant team but Christian Kofane failed to hit the target with two efforts. It was third time lucky for the Cameroonian, however, as he finished off a great move involving Ezequiel Fernández and Poku. 

Despite being two goals down, the hosts remained a threat throughout and pulled a goal back on 34 minutes: Loïc Badé hit the ball against teammate Fernández in the box and Jae-Sung Lee knocked in the rebound. The end-to-end action continued at the MEWA ARENA with Hofmann repeatedly getting into dangerous positions in the box. In the third minute of first-half stoppage time, he found Grimaldo on the left and the Spaniard netted his second goal. After the hosts hit the bar, the referee finally blew for half-time.

successful comeback for terrier

The Werkself took the momentum from that third goal into the second period and controlled the game with possession. The lively Kofane squandered two opportunities in as many minutes from good positions on the hour mark. But Mainz also began to threaten again and after Edmond Tapsoba prevented a goal in the 63rd minute, the 05ers did reduce the deficit to one again when Nadiem Amiri scored from the penalty spot after Arthur had fouled Philipp Mwene. Martin Terrier was among the substitutes in the closing stages and the Frenchman enjoyed a dream comeback after nine months out: just nine minutes after coming on, he was set up by fellow substitute Eliesse Ben Seghir and sealed the three points for the Werkself. Despite another Mainz goal from Armindo Sieb in the 90th minute and eight minutes of stoppage time, Bayer 04 held on for another away win.

coming up: psg then freiburg

From the Bundesliga to the Champions League: on Tuesday 21 October (kick-off 21:00 CEST), Bayer 04 welcome Paris Saint-Germain to the BayArena on Matchday 3 of the 2025/26 league phase. Then on Sunday 26 October, SC Freiburg are the visitors in the Bundesliga, with kick-off at 15:30 CET.

Match stats:

Mainz 05: Rieß - da Costa, Bell (Hanche-Olsen 65'), Kohr - Veratschnig (Nordin 65'), Sano, Amiri, Mwene - Nebel, Lee (Bøving 81') - Hollerbach (Sieb 86')

Bayer 04: Flekken - Andrich, Badé, Tapsoba - Arthur, Fernández, Garcia, Grimaldo - Hofmann (Maza 66'), Poku (Ben Seghir 78') - Kofane (Terrier 78')

Goals: 0-1 Grimaldo (11' pen), 0-2 Kofane (24'), 1-2 Lee (34'), 1-3 Grimaldo (45'+3), 2-3 Amiri (71' pen), 2-4 Terrier (87'), 3-4 Sieb (90')

Yellow cards: Tapsoba, Grimaldo, Badé, Ben Seghir / Henriksen (head coach), Kohr, Hanche-Olsen, Amiri, Bøving

Referee: Dr. Florian Exner (Münster)

Attendance: 33,305 (sellout) at the MEWA ARENA