Mainz 05 began the new Bundesliga season with a point but also an injury setback. Bo Svensson's team played out a 0-0 draw against newly promoted SC Paderborn 07 at the MEWA Arena on 29 August 2026.
The point from the first matchday places Mainz 10th in the current league table. With one point from one game, the team sits two points behind leaders Bayern Munich. The goalless draw also means the record after one match reads zero goals scored and zero conceded. These early figures can be seen on our standings page.
A central incident in the match was the injury to Dominik Kohr. The 31-year-old midfielder required treatment in the first half following a challenge and could not continue. A photo of this scene, captured by HMB Media/ Julien Becker for Sipa USA, shows the injured player. This image was licensed via Reuters Connect and distributed to media outlets.
Kohr thereby joins a growing list of sidelined players. According to our current injuries data, Benedict Hollerbach, Eric Martel, and Silas are also currently unavailable alongside him. The loss of Kohr, an experienced battler in defensive midfield, presents a personnel challenge for the team, especially looking ahead to the next fixture.
The match on the first matchday of the 1. Bundesliga took place in front of 33,000 spectators in Mainz. Both teams showed some early-season rust, leading to few clear-cut chances. Mainz enjoyed slightly more possession and control of the game but could not convert this advantage into a goal.
The defense stood firm, which manager Svensson will take as a positive. The fact that no goal was conceded gives the newly formed back line confidence. Complete match and season statistics are available in our stats overview.
Kohr's injury already casts a shadow over the next competitive match. Mainz 05 travels for an away game against Hamburger SV on 6 September 2026. HSV is currently 14th in the table after one match. For this important duel, Svensson will have to do without several key players.
In addition to Kohr, the attacking threat Benedict Hollerbach and defensive midfielder Eric Martel are absent. Winger Silas also remains injured. These absences force the manager to make adjustments to his starting lineup. The exact lineups and further fixtures are listed in the fixtures schedule.
The published photo of the injury scene is subject to strict usage conditions. Licensing was handled exclusively through Reuters Connect. DFL regulations explicitly prohibit the use of such images in sequences or in quasi-video formats.
This means media may use the image in their reporting but not for moving content that reconstructs match action. The image has a high resolution of 4000 by 2667 pixels and a file size of 6.8 megabytes. It is intended for editorial use in professional media. The next chance to see the team in action is the away game in Hamburg on 6 September.
