German Bundesliga: Mainz continue to struggle

Mainz's winless run in the Bundesliga stretched to eight games as they came away from Cologne with just a point in a goalless draw.

Chances were few and far between as both sides seemed to be already in holiday mode a few days before the Bundesliga breaks for the festive season.

The result keeps both clubs in a relatively safe mid-table position with one game to go before they can indeed go on their holidays for a five-week winter break.

The ball did find the back of the net once, in the eighth minute, but the referee ended Cologne's celebrations for an offside decision in the build-up to Dominic Maroh's close-range header.

Shinji Okazaki came close to giving Mainz the lead on the half-hour mark, but Cologne goalkeeper Timo Horn was quick off his line to deny him before Sami Allagui did get into a shooting position, but sent his shot high into the Mungersdorger Stadion crowd.

It was a similar story in the second half with neither side willing to take the initiative.

Daniel Halfar tried his best to alter things when he was sent on after an hour, but his team-mates did not share his industry.

Distance shots were the order of the day and Okazaki nearly sent one in, but the crossbar denied the Japanese forward.

Cologne's response came from the boot of Matthias Lehmann, but Loris Karius got down well to turn his shot behind for a corner, which did not bring any danger, like much of the 90 minutes between two sides who showed little desire to get more than a point.