1. FC Köln screwed up the jump to a European Cup place for FSV Mainz 05. At the end of the 12th matchday in the Bundesliga, the Rhinelander scored 1-1 (0: 1) in Mainz on Sunday. Jonathan Burkardt had put the hosts in the lead in the 41st minute with his sixth goal of the season. Shortly after the break, Salih Öczan (47th) marked the deserved 1: 1 in front of 25,500 spectators for the Cologne team, who were better over long distances. Downside for coach Steffen Baumgart's team: Cologne's best striker Anthony Modeste had to leave the field with a painful injury and could be out against Borussia Mönchengladbach next week.

Mainz coach Bo Svensson relied on continuity as a recipe for success and started with the same starting line-up as in the 1-1 draw before the international break against Borussia Mönchengladbach. In the first half, however, his plan did not work out for long stretches. 1. FC Köln was the more active team and also reported the successful strike duo Burkardt and Karim Onisiwo in defense for a long time. But with a successful combination, the two duped the Cologne defense: Onisiwo levered the defense with a header, Burkardt let out an opponent with a hook and shot to 1-0 into the goal.

Until then, Cologne was the team that determined the game. With a courageous and dynamic attacking game, the players of coach Steffen Baumgart ran incessantly towards the Mainz goal. But the long-term shortcoming of the Rhinelander was once again obvious: the exploitation of opportunities. Until the 20th minute, Ondrej Duda alone had three options. Luca Kilian (30), who replaced Timo Hübers two weeks earlier against 1. FC Union Berlin compared to the 2-2 draw, headed just next to the goal after a corner. And Anthony Modeste (35th) also failed because of Robin Zentner after he ran towards the Mainz goalkeeper.

The Cologne team then had to cope with a severe setback in the 44th minute: Modeste, the top scorer of his team with eight goals, had to be replaced after a foul by Stefan Bell. The Frenchman held his back and was escorted from the square, his face contorted with pain. The striker is suspected of having a severe bruise in the pelvis. Sebastian Andersson came into play for him. On the Mainz side, Dominik Kohr had already been caught, who was replaced by Leandro Barreiro due to a thigh injury.

At the beginning of the second half, Cologne was rewarded for their courageous offensive game.

After a free kick by Mark Uth, Öczan headed to the deserved 1: 1.

For the midfielder it was the first goal in the 74th Bundesliga game.

And the Rhinelander did not let up after that and put the hosts under constant pressure.

After a clash between Uth and FSV defender Alexander Hack in the Mainz penalty area, Cologne's assistant coach Kevin McKenna and Bo Svensson clashed on the sidelines.

After a heated argument, referee Deniz Aytekin showed both fighters the yellow card.

On the field, too, as the playing time increased, the playful elements more and more predominated.

Goal area scenes remained in short supply, so that both teams had to be satisfied with the draw.