Goalless between Mainz and Schalke as Robin Quaison fires a blank
Robin Quaison was kept in check by Schalke as Mainz were held to their first draw of the season.
After losing their last four home games, the fans in the Opel Arena took it upon themselves to provide Mainz with a 12th man, and the colourful pre-Carnival atmosphere appeared to be working. Levin Öztunali had two good early chances as the hosts started confidently and brightly. Adam Szalai had two further half-chances for Mainz, who were looking comfortable, albeit without giving Alexander Nübel too much to worry about in the Schalke goal. At the other end, Robin Zentner was completely untested until Matija Nastastic headed his way on the half-hour mark.
Schalke had clearly done their homework and knew how important it was to reduce Quaison's impact on the game. While blunting the sharpest weapon in Mainz's armoury would help them keep a clean sheet, they needed to sharpen their own attack to have any chance of getting more, but a Michael Gregoritsch effort was too easy for Zentner to deal with. Quaison finally caught a glimpse of goal in the 78th minute, but Schalke were quick to close him down and block his effort, although he wriggled free again a minute later only to be denied by the crossbar. Weston McKennie almost went as close in stoppage time, but he headed Schalke's best chance of the game wide from a corner.
Match stats
- Quaison took his total for the season to a career-best 11 with his hat-trick in the 3-1 win at Hertha Berlin. The Sweden international is the first Mainz player ever to score two hat-tricks in the Bundesliga.
- Mainz drew a game for the first time all season, after seven wins and 14 draws.
- Jean-Clair Todibo won 63 per cent of his tackles and had 71 touches on his full Bundesliga debut – both top figures at the moment of his substitution.
- Mainz had lost their last four home league games, ending that run just one short of equalling a club record.
Watch: Kenny: “A draw is a fair result”
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Line-ups
Mainz: Zentner - St. Juste, Bruma, Niakhate - Baku, Barreiro, Latza (c) (Kunde 82'), Brosinski - Öztunali (Onisiwo 66'), Szalai (Mateta 72'), Quaison
Unused subs: Müller, Pierre-Gabriel, Aaron, Mwene, Boetius, Burkardt
Out: Bell (ankle), Fernandes (knee), Hack (ankle)
Coach: Achim Beierlorzer
Schalke: Nübel - Kenny, Todibo (Kabak 63'), Nastasic, Oczipka - Schöpf, Mascarell, McKennie - Harit (Miranda 82'), Gregoritsch, Raman (Kutucu 75')
Unused subs: Langer, Becker, Boujellab, Mercan, Matondo, Burgstaller
Out: Caligiuri (knee), Sane (knee), Schubert (knee), Serdar (ankle), Stambouli (metatarsal)
Coach: David Wagner
Watch: Quaison: "A very tough game"
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