Paul Nebel’s season unravels as Mainz sink to the bottom

December 3, 2025 Oliver Obel

Mainz opened the Bundesliga campaign with a 0:1 home defeat to Cologne. Nebel was sent off for a last-man foul, and the mood around the club darkened almost immediately. According to several German media outlets, his spirits lifted only briefly when Julian Nagelsmann called him into the senior national team a few days later.

Nagelsmann praised him during that announcement, describing Nebel as one of the most noticeable attacking players of the previous season. The call-up, however, did not lead to playing time. He remained on the bench for both September qualifiers, and it is unclear when he will return to the national conversation.

Why expectations had been so high

Nebel’s momentum had been building steadily. After two loan seasons at Karlsruher SC, he returned to Mainz in 2024 and earned a place in the lineup almost immediately. Mainz goalkeeper Robin Zentner told ZDF that Nebel looked as if he had already spent years in the Bundesliga.

During the 2024/25 season, Nebel contributed ten goals and six assists as Mainz secured a spot in the Conference League. His strong showing at the U21 European Championship created even more attention. He reached the final with Germany, set up Nelson Weiper’s goal against England and scored a well-placed equaliser. Several clubs took notice.

A club and a player losing direction

Nebel insisted in the summer that he felt comfortable in Mainz, telling Allgemeine Zeitung that he had no desire to leave. Coach Bo Henriksen even suggested in a media round that the club might be able to sell him for a very large fee in the future. In hindsight, it reflects how quickly expectations shifted once the season began.

Mainz have collected only six points from their first twelve league matches and sit at the bottom of the table. The squad has struggled with the pace of domestic and European commitments, and Nebel has not been able to influence matches in the way he did a year ago. He has one Bundesliga goal, one assist in Europe and two red cards across all competitions.

Searching for stability

There were brief signs of recovery. After returning from his first suspension, Nebel scored in a 4:1 win in Augsburg. It remains Mainz’s only league victory so far. Since then, he has not been involved in a single goal. His second red card of the season, picked up in Freiburg after a poorly timed challenge on Philipp Lienhart, has only added to the pressure around him.

For Mainz, the immediate priority is to escape the relegation zone. For Nebel, the challenge is more personal: to regain the confidence and creativity that once set him apart. Whether he can rediscover that form in a struggling side will shape the rest of his season.

Sources: ZDF, Allgemeine Zeitung, German press reports