Mainz and Union Berlin play out goalless draw

Mainz 0-0 Union

All eyes were on Siebatcheu after the young American scored in each of his first two competitive outings for Union, but it was Mainz’s South Korean midfielder Jae-sung Lee who brought the first test out of either side’s goalkeeper on a sweltering day at the Mewa Arena. Lee’s scooped lob had Frederik Rönnow back-pedalling but the Denmark international was up to the task to tip wide. Anton Stach then drew a straightforward save from Rönnow, as the hosts looked the more threatening side but without managing to break the deadlock. Union were quiet at the other end as the first half drew to a close without a breakthrough.

Union almost took the lead five minutes after the break as Niko Gießelmann bombed forward from left-back before cutting inside and letting fly on his right-foot, but his strike couldn't quite dip enough and landed safely on the roof of the net. Soon after, Julian Ryerson produced a near mirror-image of Gießelmann's effort but this time flashed wide after turning inside onto his left as the visitors used the flanks to their advantage. Mainz, meanwhile, were having more luck through central areas and Stach again forced Rönnow into action just before the hour mark but, again, without real concern for the away keeper. On a sapping day for both teams, a goalless draw - the first ever between these two clubs - was a fair result.

• This was the first ever 0-0 draw between these two teams in their history.
• Union won both fixtures last term, and Mainz have now gone three matches without a victory over the 05ers.
• Union are unbeaten in a club record nine Bundesliga matches (W7, D2). Their last loss was against Bayern Munich on 19 March 2022.
• Mainz conceded a league-low 11 goals and kept a division-leading nine clean sheets in home Bundesliga matches last season and start the new season with another shutout on home soil at the first attempt.
• Siebatcheu (18) won more duels than any other player on the pitch.
• Gießelmann, meanwhile, covered the most ground: 6.8 miles.

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Watch: Julian Ryerson on Union's objectives this season

Mainz: Zentner - Bell, Hack, Leitsch - Widmer (c), Kohr, Lee (Fulgini 65'), Aaron - Stach (Barreiro 65'), Ingvartsen (Mustapha 75') – Onisiwo (Burgzorg 85')
Unused subs: Dahmen, Fernandes, Caci, Tauer, Barkok
Out: Burkardt (muscular), da Costa (pubic bone), Tauer (thigh)
Coach: Bo Svensson

Union: Rönnow - Jaeckel, Knoche, Leite - Ryerson (Trimmel 82'), Khedira (c), Gießelmann – Haraguchi (Thorsby 70'), Haberer (Schäfer 62') – Becker (Michel 82'), Siebatcheu (Behrens 70')
Unused subs: Grill, Doekhi, Leweling, Skarke
Out: Baumgartl (match fitness), Schneider (knee)
Coach: Urs Fischer