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26.06.2020Bundesliga

Bosz calls for full focus on own game

The final Bundesliga fixture of this exceptional season is here: Fifth-placed Bayer 04 entertain FSV Mainz 05 at the BayArena tomorrow (kick-off: 15.30 CET). A fourth-place finish and qualification for the Champions League requires the assistance of Hertha Berlin at Borussia Mönchengladbach. But head coach Peter Bosz made his view clear ahead of the final matchday in the top-flight: Complete concentration on our own game.

Ahead of the clash with the already safe Mainz, the Dutchman declared: "We don't need to think about what's happening on the pitch at Gladbach. We have to win our game. And then we'll see if that's enough in the end."

In the best-case scenario, the Werkself will be happy to repeat the drama of the final matchday of the 2018/19 league campaign: Back then, the Black and Reds qualified for the Champions League with an emphatic 5-1 win against Hertha Berlin and a 2-0 defeat for Gladbach against Borussia Dortmund. "We showed then what is possible," said Bosz.

Dragovic serving one-match ban

Good news: Ahead of the game with Mainz, the 56-year-old coach can select his team from his whole squad with the exception of Aleksandar Dragovic who is currently serving a one-match ban. Karim Bellarabi and captain Lars Bender returned to training with the team on Friday following injury. Bosz explained: "We'll see who plays tomorrow. Our only interest is definitely winning the match."

Bosz on Mainz

The team coached by Achim Beierlorzer have already secured their top-flight status with two recent wins at Dortmund (2-0) and fellow relegation candidates Werder Bremen (3-1). Bosz does not believe Mainz will let the season end with a whimper. The Werkself coach commenting on tomorrow's opponents: "They played very well against us in our narrow win earlier in the season (1-0 ed.). Mainz have some interesting players and a good team."

Match information:
Broadcasters: Sky and Werkself Radio (bayer04.de)
Referee: The referee will be announced on the day of the game

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