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Anthony Modeste (2nd l.) tried in vain to ease Köln's scoring troubles against Mainz in a fiercely contested encounter that finished goalless. - © © gettyimages / Jürgen Schwarz
Anthony Modeste (2nd l.) tried in vain to ease Köln's scoring troubles against Mainz in a fiercely contested encounter that finished goalless. - © © gettyimages / Jürgen Schwarz

Köln and Mainz fire blanks in battle of Carnival clubs

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In the contest of the league’s two carnival clubs, 1. FC Köln and 1. FSV Mainz 05 played out a goalless draw at the RheinEnergieSTADION on Matchday 13.

1. FC Köln 0-0 FSV Mainz 05

Köln’s start to the carnival season could barely have begun better than with a derby win over neighbours Bayer 04 Leverkusen a fortnight ago, but they found it tough going against a well-drilled Mainz side in the first half. The hosts had some joy in wide positions but their final ball lacked quality, and it was Mainz that came closest through the in-form Yunus Malli’s snap-shot and Japan international Yoshinori Muto’s header over the bar.

Peter Stöger’s men started the second period on the front foot, and Anthony Modeste was inches away from his seventh of the season when his low drive struck the post. Thereafter, however, neither side managed to create much in the way of chances, and Leonardo Bittencourt’s miss from five yards – albeit from an offside position – rather summed up the afternoon.

Man of the match

Dominic Maroh was the hero against Leverkusen with his two goals, but he stood out with a faultless display at the back here, commanding the Köln defence and enjoying the second-most touches in the side.

Talking point

As solid as their defence was, scoring goals is slowly becoming an issue for Stöger’s side again. They managed just 34 in 34 matches last season and have scored just 15 in 13 games this term. Modeste, without a goal since Matchday 8, needs to find his shooting boots again sooner rather than later.

Match stats

    The first shot of the game came in the 41st minute from Kevin Vogt.Timo Horn was called upon to make just one save in the entire 90 minutes.The Billy Goats have now failed to score in their last three home games.

Line-ups

Köln: Horn – Risse. Maroh, Heintz, Hector – Osako, Lehmann (c), Vogt, Bittencourt (Gerhardt 83’) – Hosiner (Zoller 59’), Modeste

Mainz: Karius – Brosinski, Bungert, Bell, Bengtsson – Baumgartlinger, Latza – De Blasis (Clemens 85’), Malli (Niederlechner 90’), Jairo – Muto (Cordoba 68’)