Mainz 5-0 Cologne: The Billy Goats torn apart by five-star Mainz

Mainz cruises against FC Köln on a home win at the OPEL Arena on Friday. Both Mainz and Cologne arrived in good form, having secured victories in their previous matches. Mainz were looking to pick up points, following a 2-0 victory against Werder Bremen. Cologne, meanwhile, were able to continue their winning streak after a 3-2 win against Augsburg in their last match. Mainz are currently 3rd with 18 points from 11 matches, while Cologne sit in 9th, with 16 points from 11.

Mainz started strongly in the first half, when Marcus Ingvartsen opened the rout in the 11th minute. The momentum was again with The 05ers, who then scored again courtesy of a goal from Dominik Kohr in the 35th minute to establish a 2-0 result. They then scored again, pulling level thanks to a goal from Anton Stach just before half-time and the first half ended 3-0.

Mainz continued to pile on the pressure in the second half and were rewarded, when Aaron Martin found the net, 73 minutes in. They then scored again, pulling level thanks to a goal from Karim Onisiwo in the 83rd minute to make it 5-0.

Substitutions for Mainz included Angelo Fulgini, Stefan Bell, Jonathan Michael Burkardt, Silvan Widmer and Aymen Barkok for Dominik Kohr, Alexander Hack, Marcus Ingvartsen, Danny Da Costa and Anton Stach, respectively. Cologne brought on Nikola Soldo, Kingsley Schindler, Florian Dietz, Denis Huseinbasic and Kristian Pedersen, to replace Ondrej Duda, Linton Maina, Steffen Tigges, Florian Kainz and Jonas Hector.

The referee booked Dominik Kohr from Mainz. Cologne had the worst of it though, with Luca Kilian, Mark Uth, Nikola Soldo and Eric Martel seeing yellow, and Luca Kilian (2 yellow cards) then sent off with a red.

Mainz will next play Bayern Munich away, with Cologne facing Hoffenheim at home.