What memories does the manager have of his first game in Mainz, what do Werder have to look out for on Saturday from 15:30 CEST and which statistics are in SVW's favour...
What memories does the manager have of his first game in Mainz, what do Werder have to look out for on Saturday from 15:30 CEST and which statistics are in SVW's favour...
When Werder's meeting with 1. FSV Mainz 05 rolls around on Saturday, 24th October 2015, almost exactly one year will have passed since Viktor Skripnik took on the role of Bremen head coach. His first opponents back then were also the Zerofivers. The Ukrainian led his side to a 2-1 win at the Coface Arena, their first victory of the Bundesliga season. Now, exactly 363 days after Skripnik's tenure began, the Green-Whites return to the Rhineland-Palatinate capital. "It was a game that saw us turn a corner. The coach has set us up well again this time and there's a positive atmosphere within the squad. That helps us. We want to turn things around again with a focused performance," said Philipp Bargfrede.
What memories does the manager have of his first game in Mainz, what do Werder have to look out for on Saturday from 15:30 CEST and which statistics are in SVW's favour for the clash? WERDER.DE has all the key information for you in one place.
Did you know that...
...Werder often take points home from Mainz? SVW have won five of their last eight away games against FSV, also picking up two draws. The Green-Whites' only defeat in that timeframe came in April 2014. Only record champions Bayern have claimed more victories against Mainz in that spell (7).

...Bremen inflicted Mainz's heaviest ever Bundesliga home defeat on them? SVW were 6-1 winners on 26th October 2006. Incidentally, the Mainz coach back then was none other than current Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp.
...Mainz have lost their last two Bundesliga home games? They have recently been beaten 3-0 by Bayern and 2-0 by Dortmund, therefore suffering back-to-back losses on home soil for the first time since September 2013. The last time they were handed more consecutive defeats on their own turf was back in 2011 - that run of five straight home losses remains a club record.
...Werder have to look out for one Mainz player in particular? With six goals in nine games, Yunus Malli is FSV's top scorer so far this season and fourth in the current Bundesliga charts. "Malli is the star in Mainz and their key player on the pitch. We have to be careful," warned Skripnik.
...Claudio Pizarro enjoys facing the Zerofivers? "Piza" has found the net eleven times in 15 games against Mainz, recording twelve wins, two draws and just one defeat.
...Viktor Skripnik has a special anecdote from his last trip to Mainz? "It's unforgettable. It was my first game as a Bundesliga manager and my first visit to Mainz's stadium. Our physiotherapist Holger Berger sat in my seat and I was at the other end of the dugout, so the Mainz coaches and the referees ended up greeting him ahead of kick-off instead. It wasn't a problem for me though. We met at half time instead," explained the Ukrainian at his pre-match press conference on Thursday.

...Werder will be able to count on great support in Mainz? SVW will have around 3,500 fans cheering them on at the Coface Arena. There will also be tickets available at the turnstiles on the day.
...Robert Hartmann will officiate the game? The Business Administration graduate from Wangen has been a qualified DFB referee since 2005 and has officiated in the Bundesliga since 2011. Saturday's game will be Hartmann's 50th in the German top flight. His assistants will be Benjamin Cortus and Eduard Beitinger, while Michael Emmer will be the fourth official.
...both sides will come up against former players? Anthony Ujah was at Mainz in the 2011/12 season, while current FSV defender Leon Balogun was in Werder's reserves between 2010 and 2012 and made a total of three Bundesliga appearances.
...you can keep up-to-date with the game on social media? As usual, we'll be covering the action from the Coface Arena on Twitter (@werderbremen_en) and on our English Facebook page.
