BERLIN -- Stuttgart's bid to provisionally leave the Bundesliga's relegation zone was thwarted with a scoreless draw at Mainz on Friday.
The visitors' first big chance fell to Alexandru Maxim, whose shot was saved by Lorius Karius in the 26th minute, and Timo Warner had the ball in the net six minutes later, but it was from an offside position. Lukas Rupp hit the right post shortly afterward.
''A pity it didn't hit the inside of the post and go in but that's the way the current situation is going for us,'' Rupp said.
The close shave spurred Mainz into a response as Daniel Brosinski drew a save from Przemyslaw Tyton. The Stuttgart keeper made another to deny Japanese striker Yoshinori Muto in the 57th, and an even better one to stop Pablo de Blasis in the 78th.
Stuttgart was two points from safety after its fifth game without a win, while Mainz climbed provisionally sixth before the rest of the 16th round.
''Three points would have been better, but the team performance was encouraging, particularly in the first half,'' said Stuttgart interim coach Juergen Kramny, who has overseen two draws and one defeat since taking over from the sacked Alexander Zorniger.
Kramny received encouragement from his Mainz counterpart.
''I wished him all the best. I told him to bite through it and keep up the work that he's started,'' said Martin Schmidt, whose side is now six games unbeaten.
