Bundesliga 2025-2026: Mainz-Cologne, the likely lineups

The 2025-26 Bundesliga has started with a few surprises, such as Hoffenheim’s blow at Bayer Leverkusen. The first day closes on Sunday with two matches, including Mainz–Cologne, scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

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Mainz comes in with quite different ambitions than last year, when salvation was the goal. Instead, the season ended with an extraordinary sixth place (52 points) and qualification for the European cups. Now the focus is also on the Conference League, but the road has already become uphill: in the first leg of the playoffs, the red-and-whites were defeated by Rosenborg 1-2, after taking the lead in Norway

Cologne, back in the Bundesliga after a single year’s absence, faces an uphill start. It lost two key promotion pawns during the market: Damion Downs, who moved to Southampton, and Lemperle, who ended up at Hoffenheim.

Probable lineups
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Mainz (3-4-2-1): Zentner; da Costa, Bell, Kohr; Caci, Sano, Amiri, Mwene; Nebel, Lee; Hollerbach

Cologne (3-4-2-1): Schwäbe; Schmied, Hübers, Lund; Sebulonsen, Martel, Jóhannesson, Maina; Thielmann, Kamiński; Waldschmidt