Mainz struggle with Werder

Adam Szalai (2nd from left) wants to reach high heights with Mainz but doesn’t want to talk about it too much.
First Team
Thursday, 28.03.2013 / 14:02

The final stretch of the season finally begins following the national team break. There are eight match days remaining, eight match days on which every single match is almost like a final. The start of this final stretch for Werder...

The final stretch of the season finally begins following the national team break. There are eight match days remaining, eight match days on which every single match is almost like a final. The start of this final stretch for Werder comes on Saturday 30 March 2013 at 3:30 with a match against Mainz 05 at Coface Arena. While Mainz are looking at securing a European spot, Werder are looking to increase the cushion from the relegation zone.

But Werder coach Thomas Schaaf will have to make do without Zlatko Junuzovic as the midfielder suffered a laceration on his knee during national team action with Austria. Philipp Bargfrede could replace Junuzovic in the squad after returning from a long injury layoff. Schaaf did not want to disclose if his team would play against Mainz with a different defensive line-up as it did versus Gladbach. Instead he chose to praise the up-coming opponents. "Mainz have a compact, hard-running and flexible team with a lot of experience," said the Bremen coach. "But it's still more about what we do."

Mainz coach Thomas Tuchel stands for thought-out plans and clear guidelines.

Tuchel: "Keep going as we have"

Compact, hard-running and flexible - these attributes have helped Mainz celebrate the biggest success in club history. Three years ago, the team made the jump into the Europa League - a sensation for Mainz. In 2013, Thomas Tuchel's team is once again playing for a spot in Europe, currently sixth on the table. That has increased the fans' expectations but management want to keep the team and supporters grounded. "We just have to keep going as we have," said Tuchel.

Feared opponent Werder

During 2013, Mainz 05 have played 10 competitive matches and lost only two of them - 3-0 against Bayern and 3-2 in extra time against Freiburg in the German Cup. But Mainz have always struggled at home against Werder, not collecting a single win in their last five home matches against the Green-Whites with four losses. FSV's last victory at home over Werder came in October 2004 - a 2-1 win. And Werder will be hoping to continue that winless streak on Saturday.

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