Facts & Figures: The top facts about the Mainz game

Although there wasn’t the victory they had hoped for last Sunday, the Lilies were still able to claim a point after the 2-2 draw in Bochum and gain fresh self-confidence with a sensational comeback. Finally, the Darmstadt team equalised a 0-2 deficit. It is now important to take this positive energy with us into the coming games. The next duel with a direct competitor follows on Saturday (April 6/15:30). Mainz are currently in the relegation playoff spot with six points more than SVD.

Lots of goals? Nope. The last five meetings between the two teams all ended with a maximum goal difference. In the first half of the season there was only a 0-0 draw at the Böllenfalltor. There were a total of 19 encounters between the two clubs – the Lilies were successful six times. What’s interesting is that the goal difference is only 29:28 for 1. FSV Mainz 05, even though they were able to celebrate four more successes. The clearest result came in the 1988/89 second division season, when the Lilies won 7-0 at home. A game that will certainly still be in the memory of one or two fans who have been there for a while…

This season, the FSV is focusing primarily on the basics. With an average of 213.5 tackles per game, they are in second place in the league rankings. Third place in the league comparison comes in another statistic thanks to 245 sprints per game. The 05ers are also at the top in the categories of foul play and duels won (more on this in our opponent check). Especially in home games, the defense can be seen as a bargaining chip; from the Lilies‘ point of view, this has to be cracked first. But Torsten Lieberknecht’s men can also be seen to be “ploughing” on the pitch. Most recently, the 2-2 draw in Bochum after being 2-0 down impressively showed that the team still believed in themselves and their chances.

Both offenses haven’t set off any real fireworks so far this season, and the first leg at the Böllenfalltor consequently ended in a goalless draw. With 22 goals of their own, Mainz had the second weakest attack in the league, while the Lilies were able to celebrate 28 goals of their own. But both teams have a glimmer of hope in their ranks. On the SVD side, Oscar Vilhelmsson was able to score in each of the last two Bundesliga games, and he also attracted attention with four goals in two games during the international break for Sweden’s U21 national team. On the 05er side, Jonathan Burkardt is getting better and better, the 23-year-old scored in the last three home games in which he played – most recently against VfL Bochum he even scored a brace in front of the home crowd.

For, Torsten Lieberknecht, 34-year-old Klaus Gjasula, is definitely not available. He received his fifth yellow card of the current season against VfL Bochum in the 85th minute and is therefore suspended on Saturday. With four yellow cards, defender Jannik Müller has to be careful. Fabian Holland and Christoph Zimmermann have also received four yellow cards.

For Jonathan “Jonny” Burkardt, Saturday will be his first competitive game against his former club. The native of Darmstadt played for the Lilies‘ youth sides until 2014, and since then the striker, who is currently in good form, has been active in Mainz.

But there are also some players and coaches on the SVD side who have already worn the 05er jersey. Aaron Seydel and Gerrit Holtmann were even able to get a taste of European action for Rheinhessen; on December 8, 2016, both were on the pitch together from the 87th minute against FK Qabala. Although not in European action, Sebastian Polter was on the pitch for Mainz in 13 Bundesliga games in the 2013/14 season. Our head coach also has a 05 past: Torsten Lieberknecht played in a total of 95 competitive games for Mainz from 1995 to 2002. Goalkeeping coach Dimo ​​Wache also knows his way around Mainz very well. The 50-year-old played for the club from the Rhineland-Palatinate state capital for 15 years. The former goalkeeper played a total of 406 competitive games for FSV and is still Mainz 05’s record player.