1. FSV Mainz 05 held off Hertha Berlin in a goalless draw on Saturday that means they pip the capital club to a place in the UEFA Europa League group stage.

1. FSV Mainz 05 0-0 Hertha Berlin

Karim Onisiwo's shot and Rune Jarstein's strong-arm save suggested the hosts had clear intentions of claiming the win that would see them finish fifth for only the second time in the club's history. Hertha had the better of the first-half opportunities, however. Gaëtan Bussmann's last-ditch clearance denied Valentin Stocker the opening goal, while Salomon Kalou passed up two good opportunities to break the deadlock before the break. The Cote d'Ivoire international may feel he should have done more with the first of them than shoot weakly goalwards after latching onto a short backpass that had left Mainz 'keeper Loris Karius in no-man's land.

There was no end-of-season lethargy to the second half either, though clear-cut opportunities were less forthcoming. Mainz had the only chance of note, but Jhon Cordoba will be disappointed he sent his header wide from an in-swinging free-kick that deserved a better finish. Genki Haraguchi may have said something similar to Kalou after the Japan international's dribble teed up his team-mate late on, but the former Chelsea FC forward dallied just long enough for Karius to smother.

Line-ups

Mainz: Karius - Donati, Bell, Bungert, Bussmann - Baumgartlinger, Frei - Clemens (Jairo 88'), Malli (Serdar 85'), Onisiwo - Cordoba (Soto 90+6')

Coach: Martin Schmidt

Hertha: Jarstein – Pekarik (Haraguchi 76'), Langkamp, Brooks, Plattenhardt – Lustenberger, Stark – Weiser, Darida, Stocker (Schieber 82') – Kalou

Coach: Pal Dardai

Want more Bundesliga Action?

GET THE UPDATES!