Highlights
0:21
WATCH: NIAKHATE: “BURKARDT DESERVES HIS GOALS”
0:21
WATCH: DUDA: “I’M HAPPY WITH THE POINT”
0:23
WATCH: BAUMGART: “I’M SATISFIED”
90'
+ 4
ALL OVER
The spoils are shared after a hard-fought battle at the MEWA Arena. Cologne were on top for long spells, but Mainz were the more dangerous team towards the end and could have snatched a win through chances for Burkardt and Szalai. The result leaves both in the relative safety of mid-table, with Mainz in eighth on 18 points and Cologne in 12th with 15.
Full-time
90'
+ 1
SZALAI VOLLEY!
The big Hungarian lets fly from the edge of the box with a superbly struck volley, but Horn does well to get down low to his left to keep it out!
90'
+ 1
90'
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
87'
BURKARDT ALMOST WINS IT!
Cologne's defence is caught cold at a throw-in and Burkardt is lurking to pounce. Just as he's shaping to shoot on his left boot, however, Kilian, produces a huge last-ditch tackle to block it for a corner.
81'
NEXT SUBS FOR COLOGNE
This game is there for the taking and you get the sense that whoever scores next will win it. The visitors are pushing for a goal, and bring on Thielmann and Schaub as they seek a way through.
81'
Substitution
81'
Substitution
77'
FRESH LEGS UP TOP
Mainz haven't managed to muster a single shot at goal in this second half, so coach Svensson reacts by taking off Onisiwo for Szalai in a bid to forge a winner in the closing stages.
77'
Substitution
73'
ANDERSSON MENACING
For a moment it looks like Andersson might have got the better of his marker and bear down on goal, but he's brought to a halt by a strong recovery tackle from Niakhate.
69'
TALE OF THE TAPE
67'
NEXT CHANGE
Uth makes way for Skhiri, who comes on for his first appearances since 1 October against Fürth following injury.
67'
Substitution
FIRSTS OF THE SEASON
© Alex Grimm/Getty Images
60'
DOUBLE CHANGE FOR MAINZ
That early goal has evidently thrown a spanner into the works of Mainz coach Svensson's second-half game plan. He adjusts accordingly by bringing on Stöger and Stach for Boetius and Lee.
60'
Substitution
60'
Substitution
55'
LJUBICIC SETTING THE TONE
A driving run and cross from the Cologne midfielder, breaking through the banks of the Mainz defence to get in a cross from the byline. Zentner is able to collect, but it was a good, purposeful run there from the 24-year-old.
48'
COLOGNE EQUALISE!
That must have been some hair dryer treatment from Cologne coach Steffen Baumgart during the break, as his side emerged onto the field with fire in their bellies. They equalise almost straight away as the unmarked Özcan gets on the end of an Uth free-kick to level the score!
46'
BACK UNDER WAY!
Here we go again, no changes from either side at the interval.
Kick-off!
45'
+ 6
HALF-TIME: MAINZ IN FRONT
Cologne will no doubt be feeling frustrated after having 60 per cent of possession and 10 shots on goal to Mainz's six, but it's the hosts who lead thanks to Burkardt's clinical strike. The Billy Goats' task has been made that much harder by an injury to top scorer and star striker Anthony Modeste just before the interval. Can they find a way back?
Half-time
45'
+ 3
Substitution
44'
MODESTE LIMPING OFF
The veteran forward is helped off the pitch after picking up an injury in a challenge. He appears to be in considerable discomfort and is shaking his head... it doesn't look like he'll be able to continue.
41'
MAINZ IN FRONT!
Burkardt has been quiet for most of the game but he's come to life in these last couple of minutes. He's picks up a position in the inside-left channel again, cuts inside Kilian and places a shot inside the near post!
40'
GLIMPSE FROM BURKARDT
A rare foray forward from Mainz as Burkardt is played into space on the left. He shoots on the run with his left foot, but it's a difficult angle and he drags his effort wide of the far post.
37'
OPENING FOR COLOGNE
A lovely spin and pass from Duda releases Modeste into space down the right. Mainz's back line is wide open and the French forward tries to exploit it by playing an early pass over to Uth, but it's too close to a defender and the hosts clear the danger.
34'
Substitution
33'
KOHR LIMPING OFF
The Mainz midfield looks to be in some discomfort after coming off worse in a tackle. He's clutching his right hamstring as he helped from the pitch by a physio, to be replaced by Barreiro.
30'
WIDE FROM KILIAN!
Another must-score moment from Cologne as Kilian is first to an in-swinging corner from the left - but he heads it wide of the post with the goal at his mercy!
30'
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
29'
OVER FROM ÖZCAN
The Cologne midfielder is allowed to stride forward in a central position. He lines up a shot, but it's deflected and loops up over the bar for a corner.
27'
COLOGNE ON TOP
Possession (%)
4159
20'
DUDA SURELY!
A great chance for the away side as Duda surges into the box on the left. His first shot is saved by Zentner but the rebound falls right back at his feet. He must score... but blazes over as he leans back from 12 yards out. Cologne really should be in front.
A GLIMPSE OF THOSE COLOGNE SHIRTS...
© Heiko Becker via www.imago-images.de/imago images/HMB-Media
13'
SETTLING DOWN
After a fast and furious opening 10 minutes, both teams look to have takne a step back and settled into their shape. It's become a battle for supremacy in midfield.
9'
TRIGGER HAPPY
Goal attempts
2off target
0on target
1off target
2on target
6'
KAINZ HAS A GO!
It's been end-to-end stuff in these opening stages and the next glimpse of goal comes for Kainz, who shoots from the edge of the area, but Zentner is on hand to make the save.
3'
JUST WIDE FROM NIAKHATE!
The Mainz centre-back leaps highest at a corner, but can only direct his header from the edge of the six-yard box just past the far post.
2'
FIRST CHANCE FOR DUDA!
The visitors have started aggressively, pushing high up the pitch. The ball is worked to Duda inside the Mainz area, and he spins his marker and gets a low shot away, but it0s straight at Zentner.
1'
HERE WE GO!
Cologne, kitted out in an all-black number, get the ball rolling.
Kick-off!
ALMOST THERE
We're moments away from kick-off now...
The Virtual Bundesliga season is about to begin!
© VBL
3:02
WATCH: WHO IS JONATHAN BURKARDT?
HEAD-TO-HEAD
This fixture has traditionally gone either way in the past, with Mainz winning eight of the 20 Bundesliga meetings to date, and Cologne taking the spoils on six occasions, with six draws. The Billy Goats returned home with a 1-0 win from their last visit to Mainz, in December 2020.
MILESTONES
Boetius is making his 100th Bundesliga appearance today, while Cologne goalkeeper Timo Horn is featuring for the 200th time in Germany's top flight.
TEAM NEWS - MAINZ
Mainz coach Svensson has named an unchanged side in the wake of their 1-1 draw with Gladbach on Matchday 11, doing so for just the second time this season. That means Burkardt and Onisiwo remain up front, with Szalai on the bench.
0:10
WATCH: PITCH INSPECTION
TEAM NEWS - COLOGNE
The Billy Goats have made one change to the side that drew 2-2 with Union Berlin before the international break, as Luca Kilian comes into the back four in place of Timo Hübers. Cologne are yet to win with Kilian in the starting line-up this season (three draws, one defeat), so will be hoping to buck that trend today.
LONGEST UNBEATEN STREAK
Following defeats for both Bayern and Leipzig this weekend, Mainz are the team with the longest current unbeaten run in the Bundesliga at three games.
0:14
SNEAK PEAK INSIDE COLOGNE'S CHANGING ROOM
MAINZ STARTING XI
Zentner - Bell, Hack, Niakhate (c) - Widmer, Lee, Kohr, Boetius, Martin - Burkardt, Onisiwo
MAINZ SUBS
Dahmen, Brosinski, Nemeth, Stach, Barreiro, Stöger, Nebel, Ingvartsen, Szalai
COLOGNE STARTING XI
T. Horn - Schmitz, Kilian, Czichos, Hector (c) - Özcan - Duda, Ljubicic, Kainz - Uth, Modeste
COLOGNE SUBS
Schwäbe, Hübers, Ehizibue, Mere, Schindler, Schaub, Skhiri, Thielmann, Andersson
Welcome along!
Here you can find all the information about Mainz against Köln on Matchday 12.