Mainz 05 left the VELTINS-Arena with a 1-0 win over Schalke 04 on Bundesliga Matchday 6. Phillip Tietz scored the only goal after 24 minutes, turning Anthony Caci’s cross in from close range.
Quick facts
- Result: Schalke 04 0-1 Mainz 05
- Goal: Phillip Tietz, 24 minutes
- Venue: VELTINS-Arena
- Date: Saturday, 17 October 2026
- Yellow cards: Nadiem Amiri and Kaishu Sano, both Mainz
- Schalke lost Edin Dzeko to injury shortly before the hour.
Mainz started with intent. Sheraldo Becker had two early efforts saved, while Lee Jae-Sung also tested Loris Karius in the opening minute. Schalke replied through Kenan Karaman, whose header was blocked after a Timo Becker cross.
Adrian Gantenbein fired over from distance, then saw another effort blocked in the area. Mainz had a Tietz goal ruled out for offside before their striker found the decisive finish.
Caci supplied the ball from the left side of the box in the 24th minute. Tietz met it from close range and directed a right-footed shot into the middle of the goal.
Mainz carried the greater threat before the break. Becker sent a long-range effort close to the top corner after Nadiem Amiri’s pass, while Tietz was denied from the centre of the area following another Becker delivery.
Amiri and Sano were booked for dangerous play late in the first half. Mainz also had several attacks halted by offside calls, with Tietz, Stefan Posch and later Phillipp Mwene caught beyond the Schalke line.
Schalke made two enforced changes around the hour. Dzeko went off injured after receiving treatment, with Hwang Hee-Chan replacing him. Junior Dina Ebimbe came on for Gantenbein at the same time.
Hwang was quickly involved but was flagged offside after an Ebimbe pass. Schalke then increased the pressure, with Ebimbe having a shot blocked and Satoshi Tanaka forcing a low save after Karaman’s headed lay-off.
Robin Gosens was injured in the 70th minute and later replaced by Vitalie Becker. Max Wöber had already entered for Nikola Katic, while Junior Adamu replaced Adil Aouchiche.
Schalke’s best late spell came through set pieces and crosses. Hasan Kuruçay headed wide from a Gosens corner, Karaman’s header was saved, and Hwang’s close-range header was kept out after Wöber delivered from wide.
Mainz had chances to settle it. Becker bent a counter-attacking shot narrowly wide, Amiri missed the left post from outside the box, and Tietz had a late shot blocked after Sano played him through.
Bo Henriksen’s side used the bench to manage the closing stages. Paul Nebel and Ransford Königsdörffer replaced Lee and Becker in the 76th minute, Eric Martel came on for Amiri on 86 minutes, and Silvan Widmer and Lennard Maloney entered in added time for Caci and Tietz.
There were four minutes of stoppage time, but Schalke could not create an equaliser. Mainz held their shape through the final attacks and saw out the away win.
