Mainz are back in the thick of it – that could be the logical assessment from last weekend. One month ago, FSV looked marooned at the bottom of the table with a ten-point gap to fifteenth place at the end of the first half of the season. After the 1-0 victory over Union Berlin last Saturday, Mainz have reduced that to four points. "It was an important win," said the delighted coach Bo Svensson. "There are 14 games to go and a lot can happen." Svensson has become the face of the Mainz revival. The team from Rhinehessen have picked up seven points in six games under Svensson and that is one more than in the previous 14 games of the season. Above all, that is impressive given the fixtures that Svensson and his team have faced: Eintracht Frankfurt, Borussia Dortmund, VfL Wolfsburg, RB Leipzig, VfB Stuttgart and now Union – Mainz were the clear underdogs in all of those matches. While the side failed to pick up any points against the 'big' teams in the league under his predecessors Achim Beierlorzer and Jan-Moritz Lichter, the former Mainz defender Svensson has already done it several times. The surprise 3-2 win against RB Leipzig following a brave performance has drawn respect from those involved and observers across the league.
Possibly the most striking change that Svensson has introduced to the Mainz formation is the return of the forward duo. While Mainz played almost exclusively with just one genuine striker in the first of the season, the Dane has opted for a 3-4-1-2 line-up to increase the goal threat. And that despite being unable to use the most prolific Mainz attacker of recent years. Jean-Philippe Mateta, still the top scorer for FSV this season with seven goals, is now playing in the Premier League after joining Crystal Palace in January. Also missing is Robin Quaison, the top Mainz striker last season, due to a knee injury.
The place alongside Karim Onisiwo has most recently been occupied by Adam Szalai, who was suspended for a short time at the beginning of the season, with the Hungarian starting for the first time in almost a year against Union. "I think his performance was very good," said Svensson in praise of the 33-year-old. "He not only helped us on the pitch but he also coached and showed personality, character and composure." However, it is not certain that Szalai will be in the starting eleven against the Werkself. Just before the transfer window closed, Mainz signed former Heidenheim player Robert Glatzel on loan from Cardiff City. He played up front for the second-tier English Championship side. After his obligatory period of self-isolation, the tall striker took part in full training for the first time the day before the Union game but he did come off the bench late on against the Berlin team to make his Bundesliga debut, which he described as a "childhood dream come true." It is entirely possible that Glatzel will be in the side from the start at Leverkusen after completing a full week of training. The forward is also the third winter loan signing for Mainz. The other two are very well known at Leverkusen. Both Dominik Kohr and Danny da Costa have arrived from Eintracht Frankfurt but they came through the ranks at Kurtekotten and also played for the Werkself first team. Now the duo – exactly like Levin Öztunali – are making a joint return to their old stomping ground.
Three of the four goals scored by Mainz in the last two wins came from set pieces – and the scorer of three of them was Moussa Niakhaté. The central defender has discovered his poacher gene in recent weeks and his winning penalty last weekend even set a Bundesliga record: It was the thirtieth penalty in succession that Mainz 05 have scored in Germany's top flight – no other side has achieved a run like that. "I didn't know anything about this record," said the Frenchman after the game – and was relieved about that. "Otherwise that would have increased the pressure."
If a football match only lasted 45 minutes then Mainz would probably be much less concerned about being involved in a relegation battle. The longer games go on, the greater the difficulties for FSV. Mainz have scored the lowest number of goals in the league in the second 45. In the final 15 minutes, which is statistically when most goals are scored in the Bundesliga, the team from Rhinehessen have only scored once. Conversely, only bottom-placed Schalke have conceded more goals than Mainz in the second half and the final quarter of an hour. The result: The team have been in front in nine of the 20 league games so far but have only won three of those matches. That means Mainz have dropped 15 points from a winning position.
Svensson has provided a boost to the Mainz group and performances in recent weeks have been impressive with points gained against RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund. In this way, Mainz can continue their efforts to get out of the drop zone particularly as the opponents after the game against the Werkself and the following meeting with Borussia Mönchengladbach look easier on paper. Whether that will be enough to stay up will probably depend on the finishing in attack being maintained following the departure of Mateta.
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