Mainz End Season with Win as Heidenheim Drop to 2. Bundesliga

Heidenheim Relegated after defeat to Mainz on final day

Goals from Phillip Tietz and Nadiem Amiri gave Mainz victory, confirming Heidenheim’s drop to the second tier.

Mainz ended the campaign with a 10th league win and a 10th-place finish...

Heidenheim are heading back to the 2. Bundesliga after a 2-0 home defeat to Mainz on the final day. It came despite a late push for survival, with their second loss in six games sealing relegation.

Heidenheim went into the game knowing their fate was in their own hands. They started slowly at the Voith-Arena and were behind within seven minutes.

Kacper Potulski made an unmarked run into the box and crossed for Phillip Tietz, who headed home from close range.

Heidenheim couldn’t respond, and Tietz hit the crossbar five minutes later after steering another chance goalward.

The hosts did create some chances before half-time. Eren Dinkci forced Daniel Batz into a save from 20 yards, and Marvin Pieringer was denied by the woodwork.

Mainz made it 2-0 just before the break. Nadiem Amiri finished off a quick counterattack with a crisp strike from Tietz’s pass.

Heidenheim still looked beaten at the start of the second half, but they showed fight after the restart. Jan Schoppner headed against the crossbar and Potulski was denied from close range, giving a brief hint of a comeback.

⏰ 90 + 3. Min.: Es hat leider nicht gereicht…
Danke für Euren unglaublichen Support in dieser Saison!

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— 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 e. V. (@FCH1846) May 16, 2026

 

That spark faded after the hour mark, and the home fans began to accept that a return to the second tier was coming for the first time since 2023. Batz stayed alert late on, pulling off good saves to deny Patrick Mainka and Budu Zivzivadze. Frank Schmidt’s side couldn’t find a way through and bowed out of the Bundesliga quietly.

A 20th league defeat of the season left Heidenheim 17th. They finished below Wolfsburg, who beat St Pauli 3-1 away to send the hosts down and grab the relegation play-off spot.

Mainz ended the campaign on a high with a 10th league win, finishing 10th.