Stuttgart 2-1 Mainz Player Ratings: Undav Rated 8.5/10 as He Secures Comeback Win

What a rollercoaster of a game at the MHPArena. We saw VfB Stuttgart stage a brilliant comeback to snatch all three points. It felt like a classic Bundesliga battle from the get-go. FSV Mainz 05 looked sharp and deservedly went ahead. Nadiem Amiri coolly dispatched a penalty just before halftime. We thought that might be the turning point. But Stuttgart had other ideas. Chris Fuhrich's stunning equalizer deep into first-half stoppage time completely changed the mood. The second half was a much cagier affair. Both teams were fighting for every ball. You could feel the tension building with every attack. Then came the moment of magic. A long punt from the goalkeeper found Deniz Undav, who showed immense composure to score the winner. From our perspective, Mainz will feel gutted. They played well for large parts of this match but Stuttgart's clinical finishing made the difference.

Here are Stuttgart Vs Mainz Player Ratings

Mainz Player Ratings vs Stuttgart

Here are Mainz Player Ratings vs Stuttgart

Goalkeeper

Robin Zentner - 7.5: A really strong performance from the Mainz keeper. He made an impressive six saves, including some crucial stops inside the box. We noticed he was commanding and his distribution was decent, despite the high number of long balls. He couldn't do much about either of the goals conceded. Without him, the scoreline could have been much worse for Mainz. He kept his team in the game for long periods.

Defenders

Stefan Bell - 4.5: A really tough afternoon for the veteran defender. From our perspective, he struggled against Stuttgart's dynamic attack. He was credited with an error that led to a goal, a moment he'll want to forget. He only won two of his ten duels, which is just not good enough at this level. We noticed he looked off the pace for most of the game. A day to forget for him before being substituted.

Danny da Costa - 6.5: A solid, if unspectacular, outing for da Costa. He was defensively sound, making seven crucial clearances. He even tested the keeper with a shot on target in the second half. He lost possession a few times, but his overall work rate was commendable. A reliable performance in a defense that was under pressure.

Dominik Kohr - 5.0: A difficult game for Kohr in the backline. He looked uncomfortable and his error led to a shot. He picked up a yellow card for a clumsy challenge and committed three fouls in his 67 minutes. We felt his substitution was necessary as he was walking a tightrope. Not his finest day in a Mainz shirt.

Midfielders

Phillipp Mwene - 6.0: An energetic but frustrating performance from Mwene. He was involved in the play, winning five duels and drawing three fouls. However, his final product was often lacking and he picked up a yellow card. He lost possession 10 times and his shooting was wayward. A mixed bag of a performance.

Kaishu Sano - 6.5: Sano was a tidy presence in the midfield. He kept the ball moving with an 80% pass accuracy and recovered the ball six times. From our perspective, he did the simple things well without being a standout player. A decent, disciplined performance that provided some stability in the middle of the park.

Nadiem Amiri - 8.0: Clearly Mainz's best player on the day. He showed immense composure to score from the penalty spot. He was the creative spark, always trying to make things happen with 10 passes into the final third. He worked tirelessly, making four tackles and three interceptions. He was a bright spot in a losing effort.

Silvan Widmer - 6.5: The captain put in a captain's shift before his injury-forced substitution. He was combative, winning five duels and drawing three fouls. He was a leader on the pitch, trying to drive his team forward. It was a shame to see him leave the pitch injured. His experience was missed in the final minutes.

Forwards

Jae-sung Lee - 5.5: A frustrating outing for the South Korean forward. He was caught offside three times, which killed promising attacks. He worked hard and won a decent number of duels, but his impact in the final third was minimal. He missed a decent chance in the first half that could have changed the game.

Paul Nebel - 6.0: Nebel was a busy bee, constantly running and trying to find space. He recovered the ball seven times, showing his defensive work rate. However, he struggled to create clear-cut chances, with only one of his seven crosses finding a teammate. A lot of effort but not much end product.

Benedict Hollerbach - 6.0: Hollerbach looked lively in his 67 minutes on the pitch. He was direct and tried to take on defenders, creating one chance. What stood out was his willingness to run at the opposition. He lost a lot of his duels, though, and his influence faded before he was taken off.

Substitutes

Armindo Sieb - 6.0: Brought on to add some spark but couldn't find the crucial breakthrough. Andreas Hanche-Olsen - 6.0: Came on to shore up the defence after Kohr's struggles. Nikolas Veratschnig - N/A: Not enough time to make an impact. Arnaud Nordin - N/A: Late substitute with little time to influence the game. Nelson Weiper - N/A: Came on very late in the match.

Manager

B. Henriksen - 6.0: His game plan started well, with his team taking a deserved lead. However, they couldn't hold onto it and struggled to respond after Stuttgart's equalizer. The team fought hard, but the inability to manage the game from a winning position falls on the manager.

Stuttgart Player Ratings vs Mainz

Here are Stuttgart Player Ratings vs Mainz

Goalkeeper

Alexander Nübel - 8.0: A fantastic performance from the Stuttgart shot-stopper. Not only did he make a crucial save, but he also provided the assist for the winning goal. A goalkeeper assist is a rare and beautiful thing. His distribution was excellent, especially that long ball for Undav. A decisive contribution.

Defenders

Ameen Al-Dakhil - 7.0: A very calm and composed performance at the back. He was excellent on the ball, with a 91% pass accuracy. He was rarely troubled and did his job with quiet efficiency. We were impressed by his reading of the game, making two key interceptions.

Dan-Axel Zagadou - 7.5: A beast at the back before his unfortunate injury. He was dominant in the air, winning five of his six aerial duels. He also made six clearances and was a threat from set-pieces. His presence was a big reason for Stuttgart's defensive solidity. A real shame he had to be substituted.

Finn Jeltsch - 6.5: A solid performance from the young defender. He was strong in the tackle and made five clearances. He picked up a yellow card, but it didn't seem to affect his game. What stood out was his composure for a young player in a high-pressure match.

Midfielders

Josha Vagnoman - 7.5: An all-action display from the midfielder. He provided the assist for the equalizer and was a constant threat down the flank. He was strong in his duels, winning seven of them, and also contributed defensively with three tackles. A complete midfield performance.

Pascal Stenzel - 6.0: A mixed performance from Stenzel. He was involved in the build-up play but picked up a silly yellow card. He had a shot on target saved early in the second half. He was substituted just after the hour mark, a decision that felt right at the time.

Nikolas Nartey - 6.5: A steady and controlled performance in midfield. He created two chances and was reliable in possession before being subbed. He didn't do anything spectacular, but he didn't make any mistakes either. A solid cog in the Stuttgart machine.

Chema Andrés - 5.5: The one black mark on Stuttgart's performance. He conceded the penalty with a clumsy challenge. Outside of that moment, he was decent, winning most of his duels and distributing the ball well. However, conceding a penalty is a major error that brings his rating down.

Forwards

Chris Führich - 8.0: Scored a brilliant goal from outside the box to bring his team level. That goal changed the entire complexion of the match. He was a livewire until he was substituted, always looking to get on the ball and attack. A pivotal performance.

Jamie Leweling - 6.5: Worked incredibly hard and was a handful for the Mainz defence. He won five duels and drew three fouls. His end product was a bit lacking, and he was caught offside twice. A tireless runner who created space for others.

Deniz Undav - 8.5: Absolutely the man of the match for us. He was a constant nuisance for the Mainz defence. Scored the crucial winning goal with a clinical finish. What stood out was his link-up play, creating four chances for his teammates. He was always looking to make things happen. Yes, he was caught offside a few times, but that just shows his intent to get in behind. A truly captain's performance, leading from the front and the highest-rated player on the pitch.

Substitutes

Lorenz Assignon - 6.0: Came on and added energy but also picked up a yellow card. Angelo Stiller - 6.5: Looked composed and helped Stuttgart see out the win. Bilal El Khannouss - 6.5: Had a shot on target saved and looked lively. Tiago Tomás - 6.0: Drew a foul and got a yellow in his brief cameo. Jeff Chabot - 6.5: Replaced the injured Zagadou and was solid.

Manager

S. Hoeneß - 8.0: Masterminded a brilliant comeback. His team didn't panic after going down and showed immense character. His substitutions were timely and helped maintain control of the game. A tactical victory for the Stuttgart manager.

Sportsdunia's Player of the match is Undav