Eintracht Frankfurt Secures 1-0 Victory Over Mainz in Tense Rhein-Main Derby

In the 35th Rhein-Main derby of the Bundesliga held on November 9, 2025, Eintracht Frankfurt claimed a narrow 1-0 win against 1. FSV Mainz 05 in front of 59,000 fans. The decisive moment came in the 81st minute when Ritsu Doan embarked on an impressive solo run, dribbling past four Mainz defenders before scoring the only goal of the match to secure victory for Frankfurt. The match was largely uneventful in the first half, with Mainz only attempting their first shot on goal after 75 minutes and Jonathan Burkardt, a former Mainz player now with Frankfurt, struggling to make an impact against his former teammates.\n\nFrankfurt improved after halftime, aided by coach Dino Toppmöller’s strategic substitutions bringing on Hugo Larsson and Jean-Mattéo Bahoya to bolster offensive play. The Frankfurt goalkeeper, Michael Zetterer, was crucial in maintaining a clean sheet with several key saves. Mahmoud Dahoud also made his first start since December 2024, contributing to the team's midfield stability.\n\nThis victory lifts Eintracht Frankfurt to 7th place in the Bundesliga with 17 points, solidifying their pursuit of European competition, while Mainz remains in 17th place with 5 points amid a difficult season. The match marked a significant turnaround for Frankfurt, improving from their previous encounter where they had good chances but lost to Mainz.