Highlights
B. Brand
Full-time: Mainz 1-1 Cologne
© Helge Prang
Full-time
90'
+ 11
Close!
Uth flicks on the resulting free kick to the near-post but it's just tipped wide for a corner.
90'
+ 10
Red card!
Phillipp Mwene sees red in the closing stages for wiping out Uth. It's a straight red and things go from bad to worse for Mainz who will be without another key player next week.
90'
+ 9
90'
+ 6
Absolute scenes!
Kainz makes amends for Waldschmidt's earlier miss and tucks in a penalty that keeps both Darmstadt and Cologne alive in the relegation battle.
90'
+ 4
VAR... Given!
The referee is called to his monitor but he ratifies the penalty.
90'
+ 1
SituationPenalty
ReviewFoul?
DecisionPenalty
90'
+ 1
Penalty! What drama!
Hubers dinks in a dangerous cross and Zentner flies out to meet it but misses and gives away a spot kick. This could be huge in the relegation battle.
90'
Darmstadt heading for relegation
If Mainz see this through that will be it for Darmstadt in the Bundesliga this season.
88'
Gruda suspended too
Gruda joined Amiri in the book and will also miss their next match. Mainz will be aiming for three points against Heidenheim but those are two big losses.
87'
Substitution
86'
What a save!
That was the moment for Cologne as a pull-back lands at the feet of Uth, he only just sorts his feet out to prod a shot at goal but Zentner denies him from point-blank range.
85'
Big booking
Amiri, who's been his usual influential self, picks up a yellow card and will now be missing for Mainz's next match against Heidenheim.
83'
Substitution
82'
Chances for Cologne
Goal attempts
10off target
4on target
10off target
2on target
79'
Almost Alidou
Alidou is found in space on the left hand side but as he attempts to cut back inside and fashion a chance his touch goes wrong.
76'
Cologne again!
FCK create another chance from a corner but goalscorer Barreiro defends brilliantly in a Man of the Match-type display.
74'
Cologne go close!
Maina fashions a great chance as he bursts down the left hand side before pulling the ball back to Schmitz who tests Zentner will a decent effort.
72'
Yellows keep coming
Hanche-Olsen becomes the fifth player to pick up a booking after kicking the ball away for a free kick. The temperature is certainly rising.
72'
Substitution
67'
Things are getting heated
There's two bookings for Cologne and Jeff Chabot has to be careful as he reacts angrily after conceding a foul on Burkardt.
Triple change
© Boris Streubel
64'
Substitution
62'
Mainz on top
Goal attempts
7off target
3on target
5off target
1on target
62'
Substitution
62'
Substitution
62'
Substitution
56'
Substitution
54'
Look away now!
Onisiwo, who's been a constant threat, wins a free kick just outside the Cologne but begins writing around in pain. Some gruesome replays show a displaced finger and the striker will be taken off.
51'
More Gruda magic
Mainz respond instantly and get right up the other end of the pitch. Gruda works a brilliant pullback that's cleared for a corner which results in a blocked shot from Amiri.
49'
Drama at the start of the half!
We're only just back underway and Cologne's Alidou is taken down in the box. Waldschmidt steps up for the spot kick and sends it agonisingly wide.
48'
Kick-off!
Half-time: Mainz 1-0 Cologne
© IMAGO/HMB Media/Claus
Half-time
45'
+ 3
Battle of efficiency
43'
Play paused
There's a stoppage to play as Barrerio requires some treatment for a coming together in the Cologne box. The midfielder appears to have hurt his eye but looks OK to continue.
38'
It's all Mainz
xGoals
1
1.92
0.11
0
Goals
38'
Ball Recovery Time
34'
It should be two!
Another clinical counter sees Gruda send a brilliant clipped pass into Burkardt but he sends his shot just over while one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
32'
A chance for two!
Van den Berg has his head in his hands as his second chance of the game comes from a corner but he heads wide.
30'
Goal Mainz!
Mainz break rapidly and Onisiwo makes himself room for a shot, Schwabe is forced to push the goal-bound effort back into the area and in flies Barrerio to tap-in. What a run from the midfielder to open the scoring!
28'
Double yellow
The referee has to step in as a coming together between Alidou and Caci ends with some shoving. Both enter the referee's book.
26'
Gruda a menace
Distance run (km)
3.2
3.3
Brajan Gruda Luca Waldschmidt
23'
Van den Berg with the best chance yet!
Some Gruda magic ends up with the ball sent to Van den Berg just inside the area. The defender doesn't have much time to shift his feet but it's a great chance that Schwabe stops.
19'
Lovely from Burkardt!
Mainz's no.29 does some great work on the left wing to kid a defender and deliver a cross. It's blocked and we have our first corner.
16'
Penalty shout?
Gruda finds space on the edge of the box but sees his shot blocked by Finkgräfe. Mainz's players appeal for a penalty but replays show there was no chance.
12'
First shot for Cologne
Huseinbašić lets fly from distance but Zentner makes easy work of his first save.
9'
An even start
Possession (%)
5050
4'
First chance!
Mainz get the ball into the box but Onisiwo's header goes well wide.
1'
We're underway
Cologne kick us off and instantly signal their intent by trying to get the ball to their quick wingers.
Kick-off!
"We have to deliver"
Schultz built this match up as a must-win pre-game and it's easy to see why. A hugely damaging 2-0 defeat to bottom-of-the-table Darmstadt last time out leaves in the automatic relegation zone, five points from Mainz in the relegation/promotion play-off berth. A win for M05 would give them an eight-point buffer with nine points left to play for.
More on the teams
© Lars Baron
Mainz starting XI
Zentner (c) - Kohr, Van den Berg, Hanche-Olsen - Caci, Barreiro, Amiri, Mwene - Gruda, Burkardt - Onisiwo
Mainz subs
Rieß, da Costa, Widmer, Richter, Fernandes, Guilavogui, Papela, Ajorque, Weiper
Cologne starting XI
Schwäbe (c) - Schmitz, Hübers, Chabot, Finkgräfe - Martel, Huseinbašić - Thielmann, Waldschmidt, Alidou - Tigges
Cologne subs
Pentke, Heintz, Carstensen, Kainz, Christensen, Maina, Uth, Adamyan, Downs
Henriksen vibes
© IMAGO/Harald Bremes
Times change
Interestingly, after Matchday 21 this season, Cologne were four points in front of their opponents today yet how things have changed in the space of just nine games with the Billy-Goats now five points behind the 05ers.
Schultz's view on Mainz
© Imago Images
Henriksen on a huge six-pointer
© IMAGO/Joeran Steinsiek
Probable line-ups
© Imago Images
Thank you, come again!
Mainz have a total of eight Bundesliga home wins against Cologne; the only team they have a better record against at the MEWA Arena is Augsburg (nine wins).
Travel sick
Cologne are without an away win in the 2024 calendar year, and they've also not won any of their last eight away matches in the league (D5 L3).
2:03
Watch: Mainz extend unbeaten streak
2:03
Watch: Missed opportunity for Cologne
2:03