In a game played for the Bundesliga, at the Mewa Arena, Cologne emerged victorious with a late goal from Marius Bülter, defeating Mainz 05 by 1 x 0.
Abpfiff. #M05KOEpic.twitter.com/MfWOePOwIA
— 1. FSV Mainz 05 (@1FSVMainz05) August 24, 2025
The match was marked by a red card for Paul Nebel of Mainz, which shifted the momentum in favor of Cologne.
Despite having more ball possession and numerous attempts from Mainz, they failed to capitalize, while Cologne’s resilience was rewarded in the final minutes.
The victory gives Cologne a strong start in the German Championship, while Mainz will need to regroup quickly for their next European commitment.
💪 Player of the Match
Marius Bülter was the standout, scoring the decisive goal in the 90th minute. His ability to find space and convert under pressure was crucial in securing Cologne’s victory.
📈 Interesting Stat
Despite being down to 10 players, Mainz 05 managed to maintain 51% ball possession and had 19 goal attempts, highlighting their determination and offensive intent.
🧐 What did we learn?
Mainz 05 showed initial promise with aggressive play, but their inability to finish chances cost them dearly.
The red card for Paul Nebel was a turning point, leaving Mainz vulnerable and allowing Cologne to exploit the numerical advantage.
Cologne’s strategic substitutions, particularly the introduction of Luca Waldschmidt, who provided the assist for the winning goal, showcased the effective depth of the squad.
The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, with fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle.
📸 KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV – AFP or licensors
📊 Standings
Cologne’s victory keeps them in 7th place in the Bundesliga, with 3 points from their opening match.
Mainz 05, however, drops to 14th place, starting their campaign with a loss and zero points, highlighting the need for improvements in their upcoming games.
📆 What’s next
Mainz 05 will host Rosenborg in the UEFA Conference League, looking to bounce back and gain momentum. Meanwhile, Cologne will face SC Freiburg in their next Bundesliga game, looking to build on their victorious start.
⚔️ Head-to-Head Analysis
With this victory, Cologne narrows the gap in the head-to-head record against Mainz 05, now with 4 wins to Mainz’s 5, with 9 matches ending in a draw. This result adds another chapter to their heated rivalry.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.
📸 Alex Grimm – 2025 Getty Images