FSV Mainz 05 vs 1.FC Köln

1. FSV Mainz 05 and 1. FC Köln meet for the 27th time in the Bundesliga, with the latter remaining unbeaten in their last four meetings (W1 D3). Mainz have won eight of 13 home matches against Effzeh (D3 L2), including the Rhineland-Palatinate club's joint-highest home victory in the top flight in October 2022 (5-0) – only against TSG Hoffenheim and FC Augsburg have they celebrated more home victories (9 each).

1. FC Köln is back in the Bundesliga after being promoted straight back to the top flight. As a newly promoted team, Effzeh have only won their opening game in the top flight once – in 2005/06, the Billy Goats began the BL season with a 1-0 home win against 1. FSV Mainz 05 (D1 L4).

1. FC Köln have lost eight of their last 13 Bundesliga opening matches (W4 D1) and a total of 23 of their 52 Bundesliga MD1 matches (plus W17 D12) – this is a shared record in Bundesliga history along with Werder Bremen and Schalke 04 (also L23 each).

1. FSV Mainz 05 had the third-best Bundesliga season in the club's history with 52 points and reached the Champions League for the first time since 2015/16, finishing sixth. Only in 2010/11 under Thomas Tuchel did the 05ers achieve a better final placing (5th). However, the Rhineland-Palatinate side have won only one of their last nine Bundesliga matches – a 4-1 victory at VfL Bochum on MD33 of the previous season (plus D5 L3).

1. FSV Mainz 05 are unbeaten in 13 Bundesliga home games (W6 D7) since a 0-2 defeat to RB Leipzig in October 2024 – setting a new club record in the top flight. No other Bundesliga club is currently on as long an unbeaten home run.