Bundesliga
Mainz win in Cyprus
Nadiem Amiri scored a second-half penalty as Mainz beat Omonia in their UEFA Europa Conference League opener.
Omonia 0-1 Mainz
Goals: 0-1 Amiri 75' (pen.)
Having come through a play-off with Rosenborg earlier in the summer, Mainz were not overawed by the occasion, with Arnaud Nordin hitting the woodwork in the first half.
Bo Henriksen was finally celebrating with 75 minutes gone, when Amiri converted from the spot after Kaishū Sano had been brought down.
The celebrations were briefly halted after some of the home fans threw items onto the pitch, but Mainz held their nerve upon returning for the remainder to see out only their third competitive win of 2025/26.
The 0ers host Zrinjski Mostar of Bosnia-Herzegovina in their next European fixture on 23 October.
>>> See Mainz's Conference League fixtures here
Recap the action below...
0 - 1
Omonia
FIRST HALF
Mainz
Full-time: Omonia 0-1 Mainz
After an evenly-contested first half, Mainz improved after the break and dominated proceedings. They were eventually rewarded when Sano was fouled inside the area with Amiri converting the resulting penalty. Mainz's European adventure starts with a win against what proved to be difficult opposition.
90' +6
Post!
Instead it's Mainz who break on the counter-attack. Bobzien progresses the ball forward before finding Nordin who fires the ball against the post.
90' +6
Pressure from Omonia
The hosts push for an equaliser but they're unable to create a clear-cut chance.
90' +1
Stoppage time
The fourth official has signalled seven minutes of stoppage time.
89'
Double change
Henriksen brings on two defensively minded players as they look to see out the game.
89'
vs
Silvan Widmer
Phillipp Mwene
89'
vs
Lennard Maloney
Nadiem Amiri
88'
Amiri goes down
Mainz's playmaker, who has been excellent in the second half, goes down for the third time in the space of 90 seconds. He's put in some shift.
81'
vs
Evangelos Andreou
Willy Semedo
80'
Play resumes
After a short period, the players are back on the pitch and play resumes.
76'
Play suspended
There's a stoppage in play as the referee brings the players down the tunnel after objects were thrown at Mainz players during their celebrations.
75'
Mainz lead!
It's Mainz who strike first on their return to European football. Amiri converts the resulting penalty, placing the ball past Uzoho.
73'
vs
Saad Agouzoul
73'
Penalty for Mainz
Sano goes down in Omonia's penalty area under the challenge of Agouzoul.
71'
Attacking change
Henriksen makes an attacking change as Hollerbach returns to action in place of Sieb.
71'
vs
Benedict Hollerbach
Armindo Sieb
70'
Huge chance
Simić is unmarked inside Mainz's penalty area but the defender is unable to get a clean connection on Semedo's cross as a huge chance goes begging for the hosts.
65'
Impressive debut
A big night for Potulski, who made his professional debut for Mainz at 17 years old. The central defender impressed.
64'
vs
Andreas Hanche-Olsen
Kacper Potulski
64'
vs
Ben Bobzien
Nikolas Veratschnig
61'
Triple substitution
Omonia make a triple substitution as they look to change the outcome of the game.
60'
vs
Angelos Neofytou
Ryan Mmaee
60'
vs
Novica Eraković
Carel Eiting
60'
vs
Anastasios Chatzigiovanis
Giannis Masouras
57'
Bright from Sieb
Mainz are really pushing for the opening goal of the game now. Sieb progresses with the ball but his cross is deflected behind for a corner which again amounts to nothing, but it's positive from Henriksen's side.
55'
Side netting
Mainz enjoy an extended spell of possession, probing for the opening goal down Omonia's left hand side. After neat footwork in the penalty area, Nebel's cross is deflected into the side netting. The resulting corner is cleared by the hosts.
48'
Nordin in the book
The Frenchman is the first player into the referee's notebook for a late challenge.
48'
vs
Arnaud Nordin
47'
Early corner for Mainz
Nebel aims for Sano but Omonia clear their lines via a deflection that goes out for a goal-kick.
46'
Play resumes
Omonia get the second half underway.
0 - 0
Kick-off!
Half-time: Omonia 0-0 Mainz
After a frantic opening 10 minutes, both teams were happy to have prolonged spells of possession but failed to create any clear-cut chances. Mainz did come the closest when Nordin's cross floated past everyone but came back off the post, the Frenchman Mainz's best player so far.
0 - 0
Half-time
45' +3
Kousoulos goes down
After throwing himself in front of Nordin's powerful effort, Kousoulos goes down and is treated on the sidelines.
45' +1
Added time
The fourth official signals three minutes of added time.
44'
Whipped in from Nordin
Mainz press for the opening goal late in the first half. Nordin whips in a cross which is met by Mwene, but the Austrian wing-back is unable to get a clean connection on the ball.
36'
Off the post
Mainz play it short to Nordin from the corner. The Frenchman's floated cross sails past everyone and comes back off the post, and the visitors are unable to convert the rebound.
33'
Omonia probing
The hosts work it well down Mainz's left hand side. Semedo uses his strength to ward away Bell but his shot from a tight angle goes wide. Another chance for Omonia.
26'
From distance
Omonia play a pass between the lines which is picked up by Ewandro. The Brazilian forward advances but his effort from distance is tame and doesn't trouble Zentner.
21'
Sano's strength
Sano enjoyed an stellar maiden campaign with Mainz last season, and the Japan international is looking to carry over that form into this season. Dictating tempo, Sano is looking for that incisive pass which he hasn't quite found as of yet.
16'
Omonia looking to exploit
The hosts have got behind Mainz's high defensive line on two occasions now. Mmaee wins a corner but the 05ers clear their lines.
13'
Corner for Mainz
After Omonia's prolonged spell of possession, Mainz win the first corner of the game. The hosts fail to clear their lines, but Veratschnig's low shot from distance is blocked.
7'
Amiri from distance
As Mainz look to assert themselves on the game, Amiri shoots over from distance.
4'
Early chance
Mmaee attacks the space behind Mainz's defence and rounds Zentner, but fails to find the open goal.
1'
We are underway
Mainz' European adventure begins, kicking off from left to right.
0 - 0
Kick-off!
A return to Europe
After almost nine years since their last match European match, Mainz return. Back in 2016/17, they narrowly missed out on the knockout stage, finishing third in their group behind Saint-Étienne and Anderlecht.
Debutant for Mainz
With Leitsch absent and Hanche-Olsen on the bench, 17-year-old Potulski, who plays for the Regionalliga team, makes his professional debut for Mainz in a back three.
More on those teams
Bo Henriksen has made several changes following their game against Borussia Dortmund. Arnaud Nordin, Stefan Bell, Nikolas Veratschnig and Kacper Potulski all come in with Andreas Hanche-Olsen and Silvan Widmer dropping to the bench. Maxim Leitsch and Jae-sung Lee miss out completely. As for Omonia, there's no place for Mateo Maric, Muamer Tankovic or Fabiano in the starting line-up.