Mainz vs Strasbourg

Mainz put on a statement display at the MEWA Arena, defeating Strasbourg 2-0 in the UEFA Conference League quarterfinal first leg. It was a historic night for the club — the first German side to reach the last eight of the competition — and they seized the moment emphatically. Kaishu Sano broke the deadlock in the 11th minute, and Stefan Posch doubled the lead just eight minutes later from a corner to give Mainz complete control. Strasbourg held 65% of the ball but could muster only one shot on target all evening, and Valentin Barco's effort off the post in the 74th minute summed up their night. The two-goal cushion puts Mainz in a commanding position ahead of the return leg in Strasbourg on April 16. For Strasbourg, who entered the tie on a ten-match unbeaten run, it's a steep ask — they'll need at least two unanswered goals to force extra time.