Stuttgart get off the mark in Mainz

Mainz 1-4 Stuttgart
Goals: 1-0 Quaison (13'), 1-1 Wamangituka (45'), 1-2 Didavi (61'), 1-3 Klimowicz (80'), 1-4 Kalajdzic (86')
Red cards: Niakhate (77'), Stenzel (90+1')

Both teams had conceded three times in their Matchday 1 defeats, and both could have matched that in the opening 45 minutes. Mainz goalkeeper Robin Zentner denied both Orel Mangala and Wataru Endo inside the first five minutes before — completely against the run of play — Jean-Philippe Mateta nodded a centre across the face of goal for Quaison to open his 2020/21 account with a header. Zentner, who had earlier tried to kickstart his dozing teammates with a tirade, was fortunate to see Wamangituka's powerful run end with his shot curling just over the crossbar; his opposite number, Gregor Kobel, was just as relieved when Jean-Paul Boëtius — having cleverly shimmied into space on the edge of the penalty area — arced his effort within a hair's breadth of the target. Silas' measurements were spot on when he drove Gonzalo Castro's pass first-time past Zentner to level with the last kick before the break.

Stuttgart had had more goal attempts than any other side bar Bayern Munich on Matchday 1, a team-high four of them from substitute Kalajdzic. The Austrian forward made his first Bundesliga start at the OPEL Arena, and justified his coach's choice by latching onto Endo's perfectly weighted pass before clipping a ball into Didavi's path for the veteran to put Stuttgart ahead. With Mateta and Quaison unable to muster a goal threat, Mainz's ambitions were dealt a decisive blow when Moussa Niakhate was sent off for a second bookable offence 13 minutes from time. Pascal Stenzel joined him for an early bath in added time, but by then substitute Klimowicz and Kalajdzic had both found the net to leave Achim Beierlorzer's men still to get off the mark in 2020/21.

• This was Stuttgart's first league win in Mainz since 17 September 2005, ending the hosts 10-game unbeaten streak at home to them.
• Wamangituka and Kalajdzic both have two goals from their first two Bundesliga games.
• Kalajdzic's assist for Didavi was his first in the German top flight.
• Mainz have lost their first two games, and were the only team last season to lose their first three league games.
• Last season Quaison made it 1-0 no fewer than eight times in the Bundesliga, with only Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski (11) opening the scoring more often.

Watch: Didavi: "We were phenomenal today"

Mainz: Zentner – Baku, St. Juste, Niakhate, Brosinski (Burkardt 82') – Barreiro (Öztunali 69'), Latza (c) - Quaison, Boëtius (Hack 82'), Onisiwo - Mateta (Nebel 86')
Unused subs: Dahmen, Lavalee, Issah, Mwene, Tauer
Out: Fernandes (match fitness), Ji (knee)
Coach: Achim Beierlorzer

Stuttgart: Kobel - Anton, Kempf, Sosa - Stenzel, Endo, Mangala (Klement 87'), Wamangituka (Massimo 83') - Castro (c) (Klimowicz 74'), Didavi (Coulibaly 82') - Kalajdzic (Al Ghaddioui 87')
Unused subs: Bredlow, Karazor, Churlinov, Kaminski
Out: Förster (calf), Gonzalez (thigh), Mavropanos (muscular), Thommy (elbow)
Coach: Pellegrino Matarazzo