SC Freiburg 4-0 FSV Mainz 05: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Dive into Bwin’s post-match review of SC Freiburg 4-0 FSV Mainz 05 in the Bundesliga on Sunday, 30 November 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.

SC Freiburg started strongly against FSV Mainz 05, with a disallowed goal for Lucas Holer in the 6th minute due to offside, but they broke through when Lukas Kubler scored in the 12th, assisted by Patrick Lienhart. Vincenzo Grifo doubled the lead in the 26th minute with an assist from Holer, and Mainz’s situation worsened when Phillipp Nebel received a red card in the 28th for a reckless challenge. Freiburg maintained control into the second half, with Jonathan Manzambi adding a third in the 50th minute, assisted by Yuito Suzuki.

Substitutions began to shape the latter stages, as Freiburg made changes around the 69th minute with Christian Gunter replacing Kubler and Igor Matanovic coming on for Suzuki, followed by further swaps including Philipp Osterhage for Manzambi in the 81st. Mainz, down to ten men, struggled to respond despite their own substitutions, such as Lee Jae-Sung making way for William Boving in the 72nd. Freiburg sealed the win with Osterhage’s goal in the 90th minute, assisted by Matthias Ginter, capping a dominant performance.

SC Freiburg’s 75% possession dominance underlined their control of the game, allowing them to dictate the tempo and create numerous opportunities, while Mainz’s mere 25% share left them chasing shadows, especially after the early red card. With six corners to Mainz’s two and 75 successful dribbles compared to 50, Freiburg consistently broke through the defence, translating into four goals without reply. Mainz’s disciplinary issues compounded their woes, picking up two yellow cards—for Silvan Kawasaki in the 52nd and Stefan Bell in the 65th—alongside Nebel’s red in the 28th, which disrupted their shape and limited counter-attacks.

Freiburg utilised all five substitutions effectively, such as Gunter replacing Kubler and Matanovic coming on for Suzuki at 69 minutes, followed by Daniel Scherhant for Junior Beste at 80, Osterhage for Manzambi at 81, and Matthias Rosenfelder for Philipp Treu at 87, helping maintain freshness and adding to their three recorded assists. Mainz, using four substitutions—including Lasse Maloney replacing Armindo Nordin at 54, Boving for Jae-Sung at 72, Andreas Hanche-Olsen for Bell at 73, and Armin Sieb for Benedikt Hollerbach at 73—failed to turn the tide, with no assists and no penalties or injury-time goals for either side influencing the outcome.

The match’s turning point came early with Kubler’s 12th-minute goal, setting Freiburg on course for dominance, followed by Grifo’s strike in the 26th that exploited Mainz’s vulnerabilities. Nebel’s red card just two minutes later for a dangerous tackle shifted the momentum decisively, leaving Mainz short-handed and unable to recover. In the second half, Manzambi’s 50th-minute goal extended the lead, though his later effort in the 78th was ruled out for offside, before Osterhage’s 90th-minute finish confirmed the rout.

Substitutions played a role in sustaining Freiburg’s pressure, with key changes like Osterhage replacing Manzambi in the 81st proving impactful as the newcomer scored soon after. Mainz’s yellow cards to Kawasaki and Bell highlighted their frustration, while disallowed goals for Freiburg—Holer’s offside in the 6th and Manzambi’s in the 78th—showed their attacking intent without altering the final margin.

SC Freiburg lined up in a 4-4-1-1 formation, with a solid defensive base allowing midfielders like Patrick Lienhart to contribute assists and forwards such as Vincenzo Grifo to thrive in advanced roles. Key partnerships, including Grifo linking with Lucas Holer, provided creativity, while the setup facilitated high possession and effective dribbling throughout.

FSV Mainz 05 deployed a 3-4-2-1 shape, aiming for defensive resilience with wing-backs to support attacks, but the early red card disrupted their midfield balance. Standout roles included attempts from players like Phillipp Nebel before his dismissal, though the formation struggled to contain Freiburg’s dominance without key adjustments.

Vincenzo Grifo earned Man of the Match honours for his composed performance, scoring in the 26th minute and contributing to Freiburg’s attacking flow with precise playmaking. His involvement in key phases, including linking with teammates for assists, highlighted his influence in breaking down Mainz’s defence. Grifo’s efforts were central to the 4-0 victory, blending creativity with clinical finishing.

Recent Bundesliga matches:

• Win: 4-0 vs FSV Mainz 05 (H)
• Loss: 2-6 vs FC Bayern München (A)
• Win: 2-1 vs St. Pauli (H)
• Draw: 0-0 vs FC Union Berlin (A)
• Loss: 0-2 vs Bayer 04 Leverkusen (A)

Recent Bundesliga matches:

• Loss: 0-4 vs SC Freiburg (A)
• Draw: 1-1 vs TSG Hoffenheim (H)
• Loss: 0-1 vs Eintracht Frankfurt (A)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Werder Bremen (H)
• Loss: 1-2 vs VfB Stuttgart (A)

SC Freiburg can build on this convincing 4-0 win, which boosts their confidence and form in the Bundesliga, showcasing their ability to dominate possession and convert chances. They will aim to carry this momentum into their next fixture, focusing on maintaining defensive solidity while exploiting attacking opportunities.

FSV Mainz 05 face a setback from this heavy defeat, compounded by the red card and disciplinary issues, which exposed vulnerabilities in their setup. Looking ahead to their next match, they will need to address defensive organisation and avoid early setbacks to regain points in the league.

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