Our next opponents: Time for a couple of bonus points

Position

The afternoon suited Mainz down to the ground: The overwhelming costumed fans of 05 celebrated themselves and the team in last Saturday's traditional carnival match with the players in a carnival strip as every year at this time. A great atmosphere in the stands quickly transferred to the pitch. The group under coach Bo Svensson earned a deserved 3-1 victory over FC Augsburg and Jae-sung Lee, scorer of a brace, led the celebrations in front of the funds with a red hat and a yellow wig on his head. And the coach was over the moon: "We tried to play with a lot of tempo from the start and we were very lively. I'm very happy with the performance of my team in managing to be very consistent throughout the game. It was another step forward for us today."

After the 5-2 win against VfL Bochum, the Svensson team secured a second home win in succession against Augsburg and thereby registered six very important points against direct rivals on the bottom third of the table. Mainz again showed that they can handle pressure. FSV are now mid-table with 26 points and with a decent gap to the drop zone. And they could have had a couple more points. The narrow 2-1 defeats at home to Borussia Dortmund and Union Berlin were unlucky in that the crucial goals were conceded very late on. The only time Mainz stood no chance was in the 4-0 defeat against Bayern Munich in the DFB Cup Round of 16. As far as sporting director Martin Schmidt is concerned he would be happy to see a couple of "bonus points" in the league, "so that the pressure doesn't grow again and the team might be able to play with more freedom."

Personnel

Bo Svensson almost has a full squad to choose from again in Leverkusen. Only striker Jonathan Burkhardt is sidelined with a knee injury. First choice goalkeeper Robin Zentner, who has not played this year due to back problems, may be back between the sticks at the BayArena. Up to now he has been ably replaced by Finn Dahmen. Captain Silvan Widmer could also return to the squad after a groin injury. The position of the 29-year-old Swiss on the right flank has recently been very reliably covered by former Bayer 04 youth and senior player Danny da Costa. Over recent weeks, Svensson has played a back three of winter signing Andreas Hanche-Olsen, Edimilson Fernandes and Stefan Bell. "They have done very well and have given very little away every time," said the coach about the well attuned trio. Stefan Bell, in the middle of the back three, received special praise from Martin Schmidt for his outstanding performance against Augsburg: "The role in the middle is perfect for him at the moment. Fast runs into the deep by the opposition are covered by the other two, Bello can do all the organising as he has a great memory. And challenges, headers are very much his thing."

Another former Werkself player could return to his usual place in defensive midfield on Sunday: Holding midfielder Dominic Kohr was on the bench against Augsburg after picking up the knock at Union Berlin but he will probably line up alongside Leandro Barreiro at the BayArena. The Frenchman Anthony Caci has played on the left wing recently.

A lot can be said for a well established trio in attack. Centre-forward Ludovic Ajorque, signed from Racing Strasbourg at the end of January, has yet to score in his first five matches for Mainz. Nevertheless, everybody at FSV is convinced of his qualities. "He attracts a lot of attention from the opposition and that makes space for other players," said coach Bo Svensson about the 6'8" forward. His colleagues in the wing positions Jae-sung Lee and Karim Onisiwo particularly benefit from his presence and strength on the ball. The latter is convinced: "When Ludovic finally puts the ball in the back of the net then the dam will break." That has already happened with Onisiwo. The Austrian has scored eight goals this season, a personal best for him. He scored three in the 5-2 win against VfL Bochum.

Lee, his partner on the other flank, has also been in outstanding form over recent weeks. The 68-time South Korea international netted a brace in the 3-1 victory over FC Augsburg. Those were goals number five and six this season. "I can't imagine Mainz 05 without Jae-sung at the moment," said Bo Svensson after the win against Bochum about his key performer who has a contract at FSV to June 2024. There is also a goal threat from the Dane Marcus Ingvartsen who has netted six times in 14 games often coming off the bench to score.

Performers

Playing high up the pitch, as in the wins against Bochum and Augsburg, has led to winning a lot of possession – one of the pluses for Mainz. "We don't get into the game if we are passive," said Karim Onisiwo who is a master of pressing like his fellow striker Jae-sung Lee. And the motto appears to be: The early bird catches the worm. In recent games, Lee has been the one to break the deadlock for Mainz and he has twice netted the opener shortly after kick-off both in the 2-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund (after 93 seconds) as well as against Bochum (after 44 seconds). The 30-year-old also set the team on course for victory against Augsburg last weekend with his energetic attacking and cool finishing albeit rather late by his standards this time round on 21 minutes. "Mainz have perfected playing for the second ball and thereby pegging us back," was the analysis of Augsburg coach Enrico Maaßen after the game. Robust tackling has long been part of the Mainz DNA.

Problems

There is always passion and intensity when Mainz play. And they did not go without chances even in defeat as in the 6-2 reverse at Bayern Munich and the 3-0 loss to VfL Wolfsburg. And the 3-0 defeat against the Werkself in the Hinrunde somewhat hides the fact of how competitive the match was. The open approach that Mainz take against every opponent often creates space for them. And the Svensson team does have problems with quick counter-attacks. Bayer 04 were clinical in exploiting such situations in Mainz with the pace of Moussa Diaby and Jeremie Frimpong who scored a brace. Even when FSV were two goals up against Augsburg there was a lack of balance and ball control at times. "It went from end to end, lots of corners for the opponents and therefore there was no calm. Perhaps the team needs that to maintain their commitment," said sporting director Martin Schmidt.

Prediction

Just one point separates FSV Mainz 05 and Bayer 04. Former Leverkusen player Danny da Costa is really excited ahead of the clash at the BayArena. The 29-year-old believes it could be a game on equal terms, "if we stick together as a group. Above all, we have to nullify their strengths and pace. But I believe we can put on a better show than in the reverse fixture at the end of the day." Mainz feel happy being underdogs at the moment. And, as they have established a gap to the bottom of the table, Danny da Costa is again looking up. Seventh place is not far away. "Of course, it would be great if we could have another go at it," he said. Mainz are definitely capable of that. Last season they just missed out on a European finish in eighth place.