"Now Bosz, don't let heads drop and carry on," is the message in Leverkusen. Above all, because there is the chance of returning to a European qualification position – at least for one day. And the Black and Reds will then be in a position they want to be at the end of the season for the first time in the current campaign. Mainz have declared the match to be a carnival home game. Here are 04 (further) facts on #M05B04...
It's clear the Werkself unnecessarily or carelessly gave away possibly the easiest to achieve title at Heidenheim on Tuesday. That is annoying. But that can happen. In a weeks time, Bayer 04 are back in action in the Europa League with the Round of 32 first leg match in Krasnodar and now in the league it is time to demonstrate the upward trend in the Bundesliga against Mainz: The unlucky defeat against Gladbach in the opening game of the second half of the season was followed by victories against Wolfsburg and Bayern Munich – taking the Werkself up to seventh place. That is the highest position this term. Three points tonight could not only see Bayer 04 jump up to fifth place but also win three league games in succession for the first time in three years. The last time that happened was in spring of 2016 and it would be very important particularly after Tuesday.
But beware: Mainz are currently eleventh in the table – just three points behind Bayer 04. That should serve as warning enough. As is also the fact the Werkself have suffered ten defeats in the previous 25 Bundesliga meetings with Mainz. In percentage terms, the Werkself have only lost more often amongst current Bundesliga teams against RB Leipzig (60 per cent) and Bayern Munich (59 per cent) and against Mainz 05 (40 per cent). One more reason to improve that record in tonight's match. And on top of that – after the 1-0 home win in September – to win at home and away against Mainz for the first time ever in the same season. Mainz, who have declared the fixture a carnival home game complete with a crazy kit for the occasion, will be keen to avoid that. The team coached by Sandro Schwarz have only lost twice at home and this season at the Opel Arena – against Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund…
In basketball there is the term 'Run and gun' for high-tempo game with lots of quick shots. Perhaps that style of play could also be attributed somewhat to the Bosz attacking approach - with the 55-year-old Dutchman at the helm, the Werkself put in the most running of all the teams in the league (overall distance and sprints) and also have the equal highest number of shots (56 shots on goal as have Bayern Munich) – with the number of shots on target (29) seeing the Black and Reds ahead of the competition. That is not just down to one player but the whole team. In the last two matches three players were directly involved in more than one goal: Julian Brandt (one goal, one assist) made it 3-0 at Wolfsburg and against Bayern provided the assist for Alario to score the third goal. Karim Bellarabi (two assists) set up a goal in two league games in succession in one season for the first time since 2016 (then in the early part of the year he provided assists in five games on the bounce). And Kevin Volland (two goals) scored in two successive league matches for the first time this term – the last time he achieved that was in April 2018. Moreover: Five different players scored for Bayer 04 in the second half of the season – that is also the highest number in the league.
Bayer 04 start a matchday for the second time this season. And in a repeat of the first time on matchday 12, with the home game against VfB Stuttgart in November last year, Robert Schröder will referee the Werkself Friday night match. For the 33-year-old Hanoverian match official, this will be his sixth Bundesliga game in his first season and the very first fixture involving Mainz. This could be a good omen from a Werkself perspective: The game against Stuttgart ended in a 2-0 victory. Nevertheless,Wendell and Dominik Kohr will have to be precise in their challenges. At the end of the day, both Werkself players are one yellow card away from a fifth booking this season. Above all, it would be a 'special' booking for the Werkself number 21 – as it would be his 50th. No other player in Germany's top flight have been shown as many yellow cards as the 25-year-old since his Bundesliga debut in April 2012. That's why he's called 'Hardkohr'.
Match information:
Previous result: 1-0 (H)
Venue: Opel Arena (capacity 33,305)
Referee: Robert Schröder (Hannover)
Weather forecast: 6 degrees, overcast
Live TV broadcast: Eurosport
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