Bundesliga: Werder Bremen Edge Mainz in Thrilling Encounter

Werder Bremen secured a hard-fought victory over Mainz, despite being reduced to nine men, to deny Bo Henriksen's side a chance to move fourth in the Bundesliga table.

Mainz coach Bo Henriksen is set to serve his second suspension of the season after receiving his fourth yellow card in the 1-0 defeat to Werder Bremen on Friday night. This latest setback comes after Henriksen was previously handed a red card in the match against Bayer Leverkusen, resulting in a suspension for the game against Union Berlin.

Henriksen's latest yellow card means he will now be forced to watch from the stands as his team takes on Augsburg, led by his friend and former colleague Jess Thorup. The Mainz coach was candid about his frustration, acknowledging that his own behavior led to the yellow card. “It's a disaster. But that's only my own fault. I got a yellow card because I wasn't satisfied with the game,” Henriksen told Kicker.

Henriksen's suspension is a significant blow to Mainz, who will now have to navigate the home tie against Augsburg without their head coach on the touchline. The match promises to be a challenging encounter, with Augsburg looking to capitalize on Mainz's misfortune.

Werder Bremen's match against Mainz was a thrilling encounter that had it all - missed penalties, crucial saves, and late drama. Despite being reduced to nine men towards the end of the game, following the send-offs of Niklas Stark and Marco Friedl, the home side managed to hold on for a crucial victory.

Defeat in Bremen.

1-0 | FT | #SVWM05 pic.twitter.com/KMCmgoh7Jt

— Mainz 05 English (@Mainz05en) January 31, 2025

The decisive moment came in the 14th minute, when Leonardo Bittencourt broke the deadlock with a close-range finish. The goal was the result of a corner kick that wasn't properly cleared, and Bittencourt was on hand to capitalize on the opportunity. The win was a hard-fought one for Werder Bremen, who had to dig deep to secure all three points.

The outcome of the match had significant implications for Mainz, who would have leapfrogged into fourth place in the Bundesliga table with a win. Instead, Bo Henriksen's side remains in sixth place, with 31 points from 20 matches. The defeat will be a disappointment for Mainz, who will look to bounce back in their next outing.