FSV Mainz vs St. Pauli Player Ratings: Andreas Hanche-Olsen 8.5/10 Rated as the Game Ended in a Goalless Stalemate

This Bundesliga encounter between FSV Mainz 05 and St. Pauli was a classic case of two determined sides playing it safe. The result, a 0-0 draw, tells you most of the story. It was a match defined by defensive solidity rather than attacking flair.

Neither FSV Mainz 05 and St. Pauli could find the creative spark needed to unlock the opposing defense. We noticed a lot of effort and running, but the quality in the final third was lacking. The sheer number of blocked shots and half-chances paints a picture of a congested, hard-fought battle where space was at a premium.

Ultimately, this was a match where the defenders were the heroes. Both backlines were immense, repelling wave after wave of hopeful, rather than menacing, attacks. A point apiece feels like a fair result, though both managers will surely be asking for more creativity moving forward. This was one for the purists of defensive tactics, not for the highlight reel. Here are Sportsdunia's FSV Mainz vs St. Pauli player ratings.

St. Pauli Player Ratings vs FSV Mainz

Check out the St. Pauli player ratings for the FSV Mainz vs St. Pauli fixture.

Goalkeeper

Nikola Vasilj - 7.0: A solid and composed performance from the keeper. He wasn't tested often, making just one save inside the box, but he commanded his area well. His distribution was decent, and he came out for high claims with confidence. He did what was asked of him without any fuss.

Defenders

Karol Mets - 7.5: A very strong showing from the defender. He was a rock at the back, making a massive eight clearances and two crucial interceptions. He won all his tackles and was a real presence in the air. His passing into the final third showed ambition, even creating a chance.

Hauke Wahl - 6.5: A steady, if unspectacular, game for Wahl. He was tidy in possession for the most part, but did lose the ball a few too many times for our liking. He made five clearances and was generally in the right place, though he wasn't as dominant as his defensive partners.

Adam Dzwigala - 7.5: He was absolutely immense for St. Pauli. A staggering nine clearances and two tackles won tell the story of his busy evening. What impressed us was his creativity, making two key passes from a defensive position. A complete and commanding performance from him.

Midfielders

James Sands - 7.0: A workhorse in the middle of the park. Sands was a duel-winning machine, coming out on top in 12 of his 18 contests. He made an incredible five interceptions, reading the game brilliantly. His passing was a bit wayward, but his defensive contribution was invaluable.

Jackson Irvine - 6.5: The captain led by example with his effort, but lacked the final product. He was a nuisance in the air and recovered the ball well. However, his crossing was inaccurate, and he lost possession too often. A battling performance but not his most effective.

Arkadiusz Pyrka - 6.0: A mixed bag from Pyrka. He worked hard and made a couple of important clearances. But his passing accuracy was very low, and an error led to a shot for the opposition. He struggled to make a real impact on the game offensively.

Louis Oppie - 6.5: He provided a good outlet on the flank before being substituted. He put in six crosses, showing his intent to create something. Defensively he was sound, winning his tackles, but he couldn't quite find the killer ball needed to break the deadlock.

Forwards

Joel Chima Fujita - 6.0: It was a frustrating night for the attacker. He showed flashes of skill with his dribbling but was often crowded out. He lost possession 20 times, which really stalled his team's momentum. He worked hard defensively with seven ball recoveries, but offered little threat up top.

Andréas Hountondji - 5.5: Almost completely anonymous. With only nine touches in 58 minutes, he was totally isolated from the game. He lost the vast majority of his duels and offered no attacking threat. It was no surprise to see him substituted.

Mathias Pereira Lage - 6.0: He huffed and puffed but couldn't blow the house down. He got himself into good positions but struggled in his duels. Picked up a yellow card for a clumsy challenge. He just couldn't impose himself on the Mainz defense.

Substitutes

Ricky-Jade Jones - N/A: Came on for Hountondji but didn't have enough time or involvement to warrant a rating.

Lars Ritzka - N/A: A late substitute for Oppie, didn't play enough minutes to get a rating.

Danel Sinani - N/A: Came on in the 90th minute.

Manager

A. Blessin - 6.5: His team was defensively organized and very difficult to break down. They earned a valuable point on the road. However, his side looked toothless in attack, creating very few clear chances. He'll be happy with the clean sheet but concerned by the lack of offensive punch.

FSV Mainz Player Ratings vs St. Pauli

Check out the FSV Mainz player ratings for the FSV Mainz vs St. Pauli fixture.

Goalkeeper

Daniel Batz - 6.5: Much like his opposite number, Batz had a relatively quiet evening. He made one save and his distribution was clean. He didn't put a foot wrong but was largely a spectator for long periods. A comfortable clean sheet.

Defenders

Danny da Costa - 6.5: An energetic performance down the flank. He created two chances and was a willing runner. However, he was often wasteful in possession and lost most of his duels. A mixed performance that promised more than it delivered.

Andreas Hanche-Olsen - 8.5: The undisputed Man of the Match. An absolutely colossal performance at the heart of the defense. His 19 clearances were just staggering; he seemed to head away every single cross. He was dominant in the air and composed on the ball. A truly exceptional defensive display.

Silvan Widmer - 6.0: The captain had a frustrating game. He missed a big chance and his shooting was wayward throughout. He was solid enough defensively but seemed to struggle in one-on-one situations. Not his best outing before being subbed off.

Dominik Kohr - 8.0: A fantastic all-round performance. He was a defensive stalwart with nine clearances and four successful tackles. He was also a force in possession, spraying the ball around with high accuracy. Missed a big chance, but his overall contribution was immense.

Kacper Potulski - 7.0: A very mature and solid performance from the defender. He was comfortable on the ball, boasting a high pass completion rate. He made six clearances and was strong in his duels. A really composed display that helped secure the clean sheet.

Midfielders

Kaishu Sano - 7.0: A really effective screening job in midfield. He read the game superbly, making five interceptions and recovering the ball eight times. His passing was neat and tidy, and he even created a chance. The yellow card was the only blemish on a strong performance.

Jae-sung Lee - 6.5: A busy but ultimately ineffective performance. He got on the ball a lot but struggled to create anything meaningful. His defensive work rate was good, but he lost a few key aerial duels. A solid effort, but lacked that cutting edge.

Paul Nebel - 5.0: A day to forget for Nebel. We felt he was the worst performer on the pitch. He missed a glorious chance and never seemed to recover his composure. He was wasteful in possession and offered very little threat. A really poor outing.

Forwards

Nadiem Amiri - 7.5: The main creative force for Mainz. He created an impressive five chances and was a constant threat with his crossing and dribbling. He was let down by his teammates' poor finishing. He lost the ball a lot, but that's because he was always trying to make something happen.

Benedict Hollerbach - 5.5: He really struggled to get into the game. He was dispossessed five times and lost ten duels, showing how little change he got from the St. Pauli defence. He worked hard but was completely ineffective before being substituted.

Substitutes

Armindo Sieb - N/A: Came on for Hollerbach but had little impact.

Nikolas Veratschnig - N/A: Replaced Widmer late in the game.

Nelson Weiper - N/A: A stoppage-time substitute.

Manager

U. Fischer - 7.0: His side was defensively flawless, with Hanche-Olsen and Kohr leading a masterful rear-guard action. He will be delighted with the clean sheet. However, he will be pulling his hair out at the missed chances and lack of clinical finishing. His tactics stifled St. Pauli but his own attack couldn't find the key.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match Goes to Andreas Hanche-Olsen