Our next opponents: Mainz going back to basics

Position

Mainz went into the international break on the back of a poor result, losing 4-0 at Hamburg for their heaviest defeat since being thrashed 8-1 at Bayern Munich in March 2024. It means the 05ers have failed to pick up points in four of their six league outings this term, with their sole win coming in Augsburg (4-1), plus a 1-1 draw in Wolfsburg. As such, they sit in 16th place coming into Matchday 7 with four points on the board. Straight after that chastening defeat in Hamburg, the squad had a discussion in the changing room. “The coach and also one or two players had their say. I think that was important before the international break,” said sporting director Niko Bungert. Defensive frailties were Mainz’s biggest issue in that loss, conceding two early goals through lapses in concentration. Two more followed in the second half due to “abysmal covering”, according to Nadiem Amiri, whose side still had 65 percent possession at the Volksparkstadion. “We need to go back to our basics, doing the simple things and doing them right, having a different attitude in our duels, covering the ground, being alert at second balls. That’s the foundation that needs to be right,” Bungert demanded.

Admittedly, they have been getting it right in other competitions. Amiri’s free-kick saw them past Dynamo Dresden in the first round of the DFB Pokal, while the former Werkself midfielder also hit the only goal of the game from the spot as Mainz won at Omonia Nicosia in their first game of the Conference League. “The most important thing for us is that we pick up points,” coach Bo Henriksen stressed ahead of Saturday's game. “Obviously we under a bit of pressure – that’s obvious. We haven’t made a good start, unlike in the Conference League and the cup. But we’re also not far from finding the key.”

Personnel

Part of the issue for the 05ers has been an inability to pick a settled team. Key players have either been injured or suspended for many of the opening weeks, with a Mainz player being sent off in three of the first six league fixtures. Forward Paul Nebel was dismissed against Köln, followed by defender Dominik Kohr against Augsburg and goalkeeper Robin Zentner against Borussia Dortmund. For Kohr – another ex-Leverkusen man alongside Amiri and Danny da Costa – it was the eighth red card of his Bundesliga career, taking him level with record holders Luiz Gustavo and Jens Nowotny. Kohr also picked up his 100th yellow card last time out in Hamburg and is now only 14 behind Stefan Effenberg’s unwanted record.

All in all, it means Henriksen has been unable to pick the same team in back-to-back games. The Dane has an almost fully squad to choose from for the visit of the Werkself. Zentner still has one more game to serve of his suspension, so Lasse Rieß will continue in goal. Wing-back Anthony Caci is also out of action until the new year with a muscular injury suffered against Augsburg. Besides them and youth defender Maxim Dal, Henriksen has a full squad at his disposal.

Problems

Mainz have conceded three goals from counter-attacks already, which is second in the Bundesliga only to Eintracht Frankfurt (four). They have now failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last 17 league games. One more against Leverkusen would equal their club record from 2005/06. The 38 chances they have allowed opponents is also the fifth-highest total in the division.

Issues have also emerged up front, where the departure of Jonathan Burkardt to Frankfurt has left big boots to fill after his 18 goals last season. Benedict Hollerbach was signed as a replacement in the summer but got injured on Matchday 1 and only returned last time out against Hamburg. Mainz’s 375 long passes are the most in the Bundesliga, but only 43.7 percent of those have found a teammate, while their 25 chances created are the fewest of all teams over the first six rounds of fixtures. Henriksen’s side have also failed to score in four of those games and boast just five goals to their name. Only Heidenheim have scored fewer with four. Home matches have been particularly tough of late, where they haven’t won in eight across multiple seasons (D5, L3) and have lost all three this term without scoring against Köln (1-0), RB Leipzig (1-0) and Dortmund (2-0).

Performers

Mainz have struggled to show the same energetic football that brought so much joy last season. Their best outing was the 4-1 win in Augsburg where they were clinical, aggressive and intense across the pitch – elements that have defined their game under Henriksen. However, despite the lowly points total, the 05ers have produced some good numbers in other areas. They deliver the most crosses from open play (122), win the most headed duels (148) and rank fourth for overall duels won (583). They also come fifth for sprints (1,010) and sixth for average possession (53 percent). “I’m very pleased with the approach and power we’ve played with so far this season,” Henriksen stated. However, the 50-year-old coach knows what classic Mainz traits are needed to turn around results. “We have a good team, but only when we know what we want. And that’s not playing tiki-taka. We need to be hungry. That’s the most important thing in football. And for me it’s not just about winning the first ball but also the second and aerial duels. That’s what we were about last season, and we need to be cleverer in that sense again going forward.”