FSV fall flat in first Bundesliga game of the season

1. FSV Mainz 05 suffered a 1-0 home defeat to 1. FC Köln on Sunday afternoon in their first game of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. Mainz were in complete control of things before the break despite not posing much of a threat. This control changed after the red card for Paul Nebel (last man). Despite this, FSV still had chances to win the game, however luck sided with the visitors, who won the game in the final minute of normal time with a header from Marius Bülter.

Head coach Bo Henriksen made only one change from Thursday’s defeat in Trondheim, starting Andreas Hanche-Olsen in place of birthday boy Stefan Bell – purely for squad rotation.

FSV dominate, Köln patient

FSV showed their lack of fatigue despite their busy week by making a very fast start. After less than two minutes, Paul Nebel, Anthony Caci and Kaishu Sano all had attempts in quick succession, after an attack started on the left-hand side by Phillipp Mwene. The newly promoted side decided to sit back and let Mainz play without really getting any controlled possession themselves. The hosts, who were the better side, were forced into an early change as Benedict Hollerbach went down injured after making a run in behind (15’). The striker left the pitch with his thigh heavily bandaged. Nelson Weiper, whose place in the squad was only announced on matchday, came on in his place. This change had very little impact on the game. FSV controlled the tempo of the game, however were unable to create any real chances in front of goal. The first half chance of the game for Köln fell to Marius Bülter just 12 yards out following a counter attack, but he was unable to get the ball under control (26’).

FSV were the far better side after that, holding onto the ball for long periods of time and waiting for gaps to appear. After roughly half an hour, Dominik Kohr found Nebel in the middle who set the ball for Amiri, whose attempt from the edge of the box flew high over the bar (33’). Despite having nine attempts to the visitors’ one and almost 60 percent possession, it was clear that FSV would have to work even harder to get anything out of their defensively solid opponents who had proved dangerous on the counter attack. The last chance of the half was also the first for the visitors, as Jakub Kaminski’s effort from the left-hand side of the box needed a strong hand from Zentner to keep it out (45’). Shortly after, the whistle went and the teams entered the break with the score 0-0.

Nebel sees red, chances for both sides

Neither team made a change during half time, with the promoted side seeming a lot more dangerous after the break. First of all, a shot from Jan Thielmann ended up just wide of the post after a cross from Bülter (48’), before a fine volley from Kristoffer Lund forced Zentner into a good save (49’). The 05ers struggled in the first few minutes to get back to how they were playing, as their opponents seemed a lot more courageous than before. The boss made his dissatisfaction clear through his body language, and his instructions were picked up by the team, who were able to set the tone again until the 60th minute. The best opportunity of the period fell to Amiri, whose shot from 25 yards was saved by Marvin Schwäbe (58’), before a Köln player cleared the ball for a corner. This would prove to have serious consequences for the 05ers. After a challenge in the penalty area following the corner, Caci was brought down, referee Tobias Stieler let play continue, allowing the visitors to counter. Nebel, the last man, brought the Köln player down and was promptly sent off, before VAR confirmed the referee’s decision in the earlier incident involving Caci. Mainz head coach Bo Henriksen, who was booked in the aftermath of the Nebel incident, made immediate changes, bringing Bell, Lennard Maloney and Silvan Widmer on for Hanche-Olsen, Caci and Amiri.

The 05ers organised themselves surprisingly quickly afterwards and went on the offensive straight away. In the 72nd minute, Danny da Costa – playing his 200th game in the Bundesliga – found Weiper with a cross, who controlled the ball in classic centre-forward fashion and fired a shot at Schwäbe from 12 yards out. The game stayed completely open, as the away side put all their efforts into getting forward, hoping to find a late winner. Two minutes after the FSV chance, substitute Cenk Özcacar had a free header from a corner, however was unable to direct it on target. In the final minutes, FSV found it increasingly more difficult to get any sort of relief after an exhausting week of fixtures, as Köln kept them trapped deep in their own half. Once they were able to break free, things heated up. Kohr found Widmer in the centre in the 82nd minute, however his attempt was blocked, as was his follow-up attempt after Bell found him again. In the final minute, the Billy Goats were all too easily able to score. Luca Waldschmidt crossed from the right hand side as Bülter found himself between da Costa and Bell at the perfect time, getting just enough on his header to find the back of the net. A goal as frustrating as it was preventable against a passive opponent.

FSV Mainz's next game is the second leg against Rosenborg on Thursday evening at the MEWA ARENA, before the Bundesliga returns at VfL Wolfsburg next Sunday afternoon (15:30 CEST), followed by the first international break of the season. The next Bundesliga home game is a clash against Leipzig on 13th September.