Strasbourg stages stunning comeback to reach Europa Conference League semifinals
Racing Club de Strasbourg secured their first-ever appearance in a European semifinal with a remarkable 4-0 victory over 1. FSV Mainz 05 in the second leg of their Europa Conference League quarterfinal tie at Stade de la Meinau on Thursday, April 16, 2026.
The French side overturned a 2-0 deficit from the first leg in Germany, producing a dominant performance that saw them advance 4-2 on aggregate. Goals from Sebastian Nanasi, Abdoul Ouattara, Julio Enciso, and Emanuel Emegha sealed the famous win in front of an electrified home crowd.
Mainz had taken control of the tie after winning the first leg 2-0 at the Mewa Arena on April 9, with Kaishu Sano and Stefan Posch scoring early goals. However, Strasbourg responded with intensity from the outset in the return match, leveling the tie within the first half-hour.
Nanasi opened the scoring for Strasbourg in the 22nd minute, finishing from close range after a cross from Ben Chilwell. Just eight minutes later, Ouattara doubled the hosts’ advantage, heading home Julio Enciso’s delivery from the opposite flank to make it 2-0 on the night and 2-2 on aggregate.
The momentum shifted decisively after halftime. Mainz goalkeeper Daniel Batz made a brilliant save to deny Diego Moreira’s acrobatic effort, but moments later conceded the first goal of the second half when Nanasi struck again. Shortly after, Ouattara was left unmarked to head in Enciso’s cross for his second goal of the match.
Strasbourg continued to press for a fourth goal, which came in the latter stages as Emegha converted a penalty kick after Dominik Kohr was judged to have fouled Barco inside the box. Batz saved the initial spot-kick, but the referee ordered a retake after determining Kohr had encroached, and Emegha scored from the retaken penalty.
The victory sparked wild celebrations among Strasbourg supporters, with former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger spotted in the stands applauding the team’s resilience. Wenger, who previously defended for Strasbourg during his playing career, embraced club president Marc Keller following the second goal.
Strasbourg head coach Gary O’Neil made a halftime tactical adjustment, introducing Nadiem Amiri for Nelson Weiper in an attempt to revitalize Mainz’s midfield. However, the change failed to stem the tide as Strasbourg asserted complete control after the break.
Statistically, Strasbourg dominated possession (66% to Mainz’s 34%) and completed more than twice as many passes (604 to 291). They also won more duels (44 to 40) and committed fewer fouls (10 to 16), while Mainz managed just two shots on target compared to Strasbourg’s six.
The result marks Strasbourg’s deepest ever run in a European competition, surpassing their previous best of reaching the quarterfinals. They will now await the winner of the tie between Fiorentina and Viktoria Plzeň for a place in the final.
For Mainz, the defeat ends their Europa Conference League campaign, though their run to the quarterfinals remains the best by a Bundesliga side in the competition’s history since its inception in 2021.
Strasbourg will now turn their focus to Ligue 1 action, where they continue to push for European qualification through domestic performance. Their next league fixture is scheduled for Sunday, April 20, 2026, against Olympique Lyonnais at Parc OL.
Fans can follow Strasbourg’s European semifinal journey through the club’s official channels and UEFA’s broadcast partners, with the first leg of the semifinal scheduled for late April 2026.
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