The 2006-07 campaign delivered heartbreak and the club's first-ever Bundesliga relegation for FSV Mainz as Karnevalsverein finished 16th. Leading the charge was the sensational loanee Mohamed Zidan, whose incredible 13 goals in the second half of the season were a defining factor in a campaign built on a desperate, thrilling fight for survival under manager Jürgen Klopp. Despite Zidan's furious form, the team fell agonizingly short on the final day, but the season is also remembered for the iconic scene of the fans celebrating the squad despite the drop, cementing a defining chapter in the club's history.. The 2007-08 campaign was a season of agonizing near-miss for Karnevalsverein as FSV Mainz pushed hard for an immediate return to the top flight after relegation. They secured a respectable 4th-place finish in the 2. Bundesliga, narrowly missing out on the promotion spots by just two points despite boasting a league-best +26 goal difference. Spearheading the potent attack was the on-loan Ecuadorian forward Félix Borja, whose impressive 16 league goals proved vital. The season remains a chapter of high quality for Mainz, built on a strong defensive core featuring a young Neven Subotić, and provided the foundation for their successful promotion push the following year.