Mainz 05 have announced their starting lineup for the Bundesliga home match against newly-promoted SC Paderborn 07. Manager Urs Fischer has immediately placed trust in new Peruvian defender Fabio Gruber, as shown by the team sheets.
The Zerofiver start with Robin Zentner in goal. The back four consists of Danny da Costa, Fabio Gruber, Dominik Kohr, and Anthony Caci. The midfield features Brajan Sano, Lee Jae-sung, Nadiem Amiri, and Philipp Mwene. Up front, Jonathan Burkardt and Robert Tietz lead the line. For Paderborn, goalkeeper Moritz Noll returns from injury. In front of him play Jannik ter Horst, Marcel Scheller, Mats Hansen, and David Curda. The midfield is formed by Marco Ulrich, Kevin Castaneda, Christoph Obermair, and Filip Vidovic. The strike duo comprises Dennis Pieringer and Filip Marino.
Fabio Gruber is the only new signing to immediately break into Urs Fischer's starting eleven. The Peruvian centre-back was acquired in the summer transfer window to bolster the defense. He makes his Bundesliga debut right on the first matchday of the season. Fischer stated, "Fabio Gruber is the only new signing in Urs Fischer's lineup." The integration process appears to have progressed swiftly, leading the manager to trust him from the outset.
The injury situation at Mainz 05 is concerning, as shown by the current injuries list. Alongside Benedict Hollerbach and Eric Martel, Silas is also unavailable. Dominik Kohr is named in the starting lineup despite being on the list. His fitness will need to be monitored closely during the match. These absences force Fischer into a degree of continuity in team selection.
For SC Paderborn 07, this match marks their return to the Bundesliga. In their two previous top-flight seasons, the East Westphalians failed to avoid relegation on both occasions. Manager Lukas Kwasniok and his team are determined to make a lasting impression this time. The lineup with experienced players like Moritz Noll in goal and Dennis Pieringer up front shows their intent to be competitive from the start.
The game takes place at the home Mewa Arena, where Mainz 05 aim to collect the first of three points. After a draw on the opening day, the club sits tenth in the table with one point. Their record after one game shows zero goals, both scored and conceded. This leaves them two points behind leaders Bayern Munich in the standings.
The schedule becomes congested for Mainz 05 immediately. As early as Sunday, September 6, 2026, the away match at Hamburger SV is on the agenda. HSV currently occupies 14th place. This quick succession of matches requires good rotation and full utilization of the squad. All upcoming fixtures can be viewed on the fixtures page.
For Urs Fischer, it is important to gather momentum for the demanding week with a win against the promoted side. The immediate initiation of Fabio Gruber is a clear signal of confidence in the new signing.
