Mainz and Paderborn contest first goalless draw of the season

Mainz 05 and SC Paderborn shared the spoils in the opening matchday of the season. Urs Fischer’s men were the better side, but they couldn’t find a breakthrough against the newcomers.

Nadiem Amiri had the game’s first big chance ten minutes before half-time. The star midfielder then came close to assisting Phillip Tietz from a corner-kick delivery, but the in-form striker was denied by the crossbar.

Nahuel Noll, who replaced Dennis Seimen in Paderborn’s goal, produced the best save of the game from Dominik Kohr’s effort fifteen minutes before time. Mainz also had a penalty-kick shout declined by the experienced referee Tobias Stieler later in the game.

Mainz will face HSV next week, while Paderborn's first home game will be against Europa Conference League participants SC Freiburg.