Highlights

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Full-time: Mainz 1-1 Cologne

What a game and what drama. Mainz will be gutted given their first-half domination but Cologne showed great fight to get back in the match and claim a vital point. Timo Schultz's men eventually had two penalties and ended up against 10-men and proved that they're not giving up any time soon. The result also keeps Darmstadt alive just when it looked like Mainz were set to send them down and edge ever-closer to safety.
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'
+ 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'
+ 5

Florian Kainz

GOAL!

1:1
Penalty
Florian Kainz
Goal probability
information
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
77 %
Shot speed
information
Shot speed
Shot speed describes the maximum speed in km/h that a ball reaches in a shot on goal. The distance is measured from the location of the shot to the centre of the goal.
93.73 km/h
Distance to Goal
information
Distance to Goal
The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.
11 m
90'
+ 4

VAR... Given!

The referee is called to his monitor but he ratifies the penalty.
90'
+ 1
Video Assistant RefereeVideo Assistant Referee
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.
90'

Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes

information
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.
1.
Dominik Kohr
Dominik Kohr34.47km/h
2.
Faride Alidou
Faride Alidou33.60km/h
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.
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.
82'

Chances for Cologne

FCK are certainly getting their chances, but can they score in the final 10 minutes?
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.
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.
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Triple change

Cologne make three changes and all eyes are on local hero Mark Uth who will be looked to for a goal. The one-time Germany international is making just his second appearance in 2024.
62'

Mainz on top

Mainz continue to dominate the shot count, but anything can change with just one goal in it.
Goal attempts
7off target
3on target
5off target
1on target
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'
Luca Waldschmidt

Penalty missed!

Taker:
Luca Waldschmidt
Kick-off!
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Half-time: Mainz 1-0 Cologne

Mainz continue to look transformed under Bo Henriksen with another fine 45 minutes of football. Cologne were often unable to deal with the attacking trio of Onisiwo, Gruda and Burkardt and Timo Schultz will need to come up with something during the break to stop this getting away from them.
Half-time
45'
+ 3

Battle of efficiency

Mainz have been happy to give up the ball this half, but they've been far more dangerous in possession.
Passes
132
184
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

information
xGoals
The xGoals value of a club is calculated from the sum of all goal probabilities (goals and shots on goal) of that team. During a match, it’s easy to see whether the club is performing better than expected (goals > xGoals) - or maybe even higher (xGoals > goals).
The home side really should be two goals clear thanks to a number of great chances.
xGoals
1
1.92
0.11
0
Goals
38'

Ball Recovery Time

information
Ball Recovery Time
Ball Recovery Time gives the time in seconds in which it takes a team to win back the ball following a loss of possession. It also allows conclusions to be drawn about a team's style of play. Only time when the ball is in play is counted (i.e. no breaks in play such as for goal-kicks, throw-ins etc).
M05
KOE
13.3 s
15.1 s
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!
30'

Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes

information
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.
1.
Faride Alidou
Faride Alidou33.36km/h
29'
Leandro Barreiro
Goal probability
information
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
88 %
Distance to Goal
information
Distance to Goal
The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.
10.53 m
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

Gruda is looking like the most dangerous player on the pitch so far, tricking his way through the Cologne defence in tight spaces.
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

Mainz are dealing with Cologne's threat well, but they aren't being afforded any attacks the other way.
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.
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More on the teams

Bo Henriksen has been forced into one change for Mainz with Onisiwo replacing the suspended Lee. Timo Schultz, meanwhile, has switched things up after a worrying defeat to bottom side Darmstadt last time out. Schmitz, Huseinbasic and Tigges start, while Christensen, Kainz and Adamyan are sent to the bench.

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
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Henriksen vibes

Mainz are unbeaten in their last five Bundesliga games (three wins, two draws) and have picked up points in seven of their nine games under coach Bo Henriksen.

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.
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Schultz's view on Mainz

"Mainz are on a good run at the moment. They're no longer in the role of the hunters, but are now the hunted. And we want to hunt them at the weekend too. We know we need the points, but we also know that we can win on Sunday. If we show what we're capable of then I'm sure we can produce a really good away performance."
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Henriksen on a huge six-pointer

"This is another final for us. None of the games will be easy. We're approaching every one of the remaining matches the same way - we're going out there to win."
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Probable line-ups

Who’s set to play this weekend? Who’s going to miss out? Keep up to date with all the latest team news right here!

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
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Watch: Mainz extend unbeaten streak

The 05ers have come good at just the right time in their own battle against the drop, their 1-1 draw in Freiburg on Matchday 30 taking their unbeaten sequence to five straight games (W3 D2).
2:03
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Watch: Missed opportunity for Cologne

The Billy Goats went head-to-head against direct relegation rivals Darmstadt last weekend - and ended up losing 2-0 at home. That result has left them five points adrift of the relative safety of the relegation play-off spot.
2:03
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Watch: Previous meeting - Cologne 0-0 Mainz

For the third time in five Bundesliga matches, these teams shared the points when they cancelled each other out back in December.
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Hello and welcome!

Thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of this Matchday 31 fixture between Mainz and Köln.