Our next opponents: Mainz look to stay focused

Position

There is no question the team led by coach Bo Henriksen are the surprise package of the Hinrunde. Mainz have moved up to fourth place after last Saturday's 2-0 win against VfL Bochum. From almost being relegated last season, and only surviving on the final matchday, to Champions League contenders? FSV Mainz 05 are definitely on an impressive run and have gone through an incredible development over the past few months. The victory against Bochum was the sixth win in the last six matches for the team from Rheinhessen. What's happening at Bruchweg? The coach has played a big part in the turnaround. Bo Henriksen has set free lots of energy with his emotional approach since taking on the job in February 2024. Under the 49-year-old Dane, Mainz improved their average points return in the final thirteen games of last season from 0.57 to 1.77 points per game. His input played a big part in avoiding relegation.

Mainz did need time to get going this season. They were thirteenth in the table after Matchday 9. But then FSV took off. The first home win of the season against Borussia Dortmund (3-1) was followed by another three points against Holstein Kiel (3-0) and against TSG Hoffenheim (2-0). In the following 4-3 defeat at Wolfsburg, Mainz were unlucky to lose the game in the fourth minutes of added time. The Henriksen group finally stood out with a 2-1 home victory over the as then unbeaten league leaders Bayern Munich with the South Korean Jae-Sung Lee the matchwinner with a brace. The Red and Whites then added a 3-1 away win at third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt just before Christmas. And that despite Nadiem Amiri being sent off early on and Mainz playing with a man down for almost 75 minutes. And now the 2-0 win against VfL Bochum. Not a thrilling victory but highly deserved nevertheless. "We've carried on where we left off last year," said defender Philipp Mwene. "It was a hard-earned victory." Centre forward Jonathan Burkhardt was not just the key man with his fourth brace of the season. The new international also made club history. The opening goal was his 34th Bundesliga goal for Mainz. That makes him the record goalscorer at the club ahead of Karim Onisiwo.

Personnel

Talking about Onisiwo: Mainz announced the departure of their longest serving player in the short winter break. Onisiwo, at Bruchweg since 2016 (214 Bundesliga appearances, 33 goals), moved back to his home country when he joined RB Salzburg. The 32-year-old Austrian did not play much for FSV recently and was only the third striker behind Jonathan Burkhardt and FC Bayern loanee Armindo Sieb. According to coach Ben Henriksen, Mainz are keen to sign a new striker after the departure of Onisiwo.

There could also be a change in central midfield. Sporting director Niko Bungert confirmed after the win against Bochum that there were "good talks" about Lennard Maloney at FC Heidenheim. Maloney would increase the competition for places in defensive midfield. The former Leverkusen player Nadiem Amiri and the Japan international Kaishu Sano are the regular first choices. Both have enjoyed an outstanding season. Amiri made 146 appearances for the Werkself between 2019 and the end of January 2024. The 28-year-old has been wearing the Red and White kit for a year and has quickly developed into a key player and motivator at Mainz. But: After the red card in the Frankfurt game before the winter break, Amiri is unavailable for the game at the BayArena as he was against Bochum.

Two other former Leverkusen players are available: Dominik Kohr (30) and Danny da Costa (31). Both started with the youth teams at Bayer 04. At Mainz, Kohr has been converted from a defensive midfield enforcer into an equally uncompromising central defender. And da Costa has also recently played in the back three. As has the experienced Stefan Bell (33). On the flanks, Anthony Caci (right) and Philipp Mwene have played in all 16 Bundesliga games to date this term. Jonathan Burkhardt is having a great season up front. The Germany international is third in the top goalscorers’ list behind Harry Kane (15/Bayern Munich) and Omar Marmoush (14/Eintracht Frankfurt).

Problems

Scoring is limited to a few players at FSV. Only six have scored the 30 goals for Mainz so far. In addition to the forwards Jonathan Burkardt (12), Jae-Sung Lee, Paul Nebel (5 each) and Armindo Sieb (2) only Nadiem Amiri (3) and Maxim Leitsch (1) have found the back of the net. There have also been two own goals. With the striker Onisiwo leaving there has been a drop in quality up front. The relatively small squad will need reinforcing. Particularly, as coach Henriksen knows, because "there will be more suspensions in the next few games." FSV have again made the most of their physical strength this season with lots of challenges. But that also brings a lot of cards. Dominik Kohr has already been booked eight times and that is more than any other Bundesliga player. Nadiem Amiri is the only player in the league to have been sent off for two yellow cards once and a red card offence once this term.

Performers

Goalkeeper Robin Zentner has only had to pick the ball out of the net 20 times this season. Only FC Bayern (13) have conceded less goals. Mainz 05 have only let in six in the last eight matches and they also kept four clean sheets. The fact the team from Rheinhessen have the second best defence in the league (together with RB Leipzig and FC St Pauli) is not just down to Zentner. The whole team defends with great passion and great commitment. They demonstrated that impressively with their victory in Frankfurt with ten men. Sporting managing director Christian Heidel is proud of the group: "We defended against a top team with ten men. This feeling is going through the whole team at the moment: Do everything to be successful. The euphoria in the team and the club, the motto of 'Never give up', which we created last year, is fixed in the players’ heads."

But not only the defensive work is working brilliantly. With 30 goals so far, the Rheinhessen attack is amongst the top five in the league. They intend to keep their feet on the ground despite all the positive numbers. "Nobody here is talking about wanting to get into the Champions League," said sporting director Niko Bungert. "There's still more than half of the season to go. Everybody knows it's not about getting lost in dreams but instead staying focused."