The Mainz Man: JP Mateta's time with our Bundesliga opponents

Club

28 Jul 2025

Ahead of Palace’s pre-season double clash with Mainz 05 on Tuesday, 29th July, we take a look back at the only player to feature for both clubs – as we delve into Jean-Philippe Mateta’s time with the Bundesliga side...

Two hour-long practice games will take place on Tuesday between Palace and Mainz, each 30 minutes per half, kicking-off at 13:00 BST (14:00 local time) and 14:20 BST (15:20 local time) respectively. On Friday, we will also take on FC Augsburg twice – with all four games this week LIVE on Palace TV+.

Mateta’s rise to one of the Premier League’s standout forwards has been years in the making – and no stint was more important in the 28-year-old's footballing development than a four-year stay at Mainz 05.

Of course, Mateta is a proud Frenchman, but from a footballing perspective he was made in the Bundesliga. Arriving in Germany a day after turning just 21 years of age, the forward joined Mainz after an impressive season out on loan at Le Havre in the French second tier.

Parent club Lyon decided to let Mateta go after just two senior league appearances, but 19 goals for Le Havre persuaded Mainz to pay a club-record fee to bring him to the Bundesliga.

Not that Die Nullfünfer needed to worry about getting a return on their investment.

“If you have learned to play football on the street, you automatically become a fighter,” he told German media upon his arrival.

“Wherever I ended up in my career, there were almost always guys who I thought: ‘They have more comprehensive football training, they are more technically complete, they can do this and that better than me.’

“But the point always came when I said to myself: ‘I’m going to destroy it all the more.’”

That fire in his belly was evident from the word go. Given the opportunity to play regular football, Mateta repaid their faith instantly, scoring the opening goal of a 1-1 draw at FC Nurnberg in only his second game.

The modest budget of Mainz compared with some of the Bundesliga big guns meant finishing safely in mid-table would represent a success.

Mateta proved he could step up, bullying defenders and plundering 10 league goals in 25 starts.

After years of honing his craft, this would be the start of the player Palace fans would come to know and love: physical, fearless, and capable of scoring from anywhere.

An unfortunate meniscus tear would derail Mateta’s progress the following season.

However, he did return in time to score a penalty in an unexpected win at Borussia Dortmund towards the end of the campaign, ensuring his side had avoided the end of season relegation scrap.

Another challenging season for the team followed, but Mateta was now maturing both on and off the pitch.

In a team struggling to create chances, he still finished top goalscorer with 10 strikes to his name at the end of 2020/21 – despite joining Palace halfway through the campaign, initially on loan.

Remove that injury-hit second season in Germany and his overall record finished up as 24 goals from 53 games.

This was a sizeable return from a player many had previously written off as not mobile enough to trouble the best defences in Europe – indeed, Mateta’s run at Mainz demonstrated he had the ability to become a forward capable of scoring at any level.

With over four years having passed since his last appearance for the German side, most Palace supporters will be grateful his potential was spotted, and his ability then honed in South London.

As 2025/26 approaches, with an FA Cup winners’ medal now under his belt, the French forward will be looking to take his game to another stratosphere in South London.

Corner flags everywhere, beware.

Match details

Crystal Palace v Mainz 05

Tuesday, 29th July
13:00 & 14:20 BST (2 x 60-minute matches)
Hans-Ludwig-Stadion
Live on Palace TV+

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