SV Werder host 1. FSV Mainz 05 at the wohninvest WESERSTADION on Saturday (15.10.22, 15:30 CEST). After recent victories against Gladbach and Hoffenheim, the Green-Whites want to extend their run of wins. Head coach Ole Werner is expecting an intense game. “We have to find quick solution in possession after winning the ball back because there will not be much time to think on the ball against this team,” emphasised the head coach in his press conference on Thursday.
Team news: Leo Bittencourt and Nicolai Rapp will not be in the squad. Bittencourt misses out due to illness, while Nicolai Rapp is absent with a muscular injury. Central defender Milos Veljkovic will also be unable to play on Saturday due to an inflamed tendon in his thigh. Manuel Mbom is still working on his comeback after an Achilles tendon tear.
The head coach on the opposition: “I am expecting a team that play with a lot of intensity and looks to play forward directly. They want to gegenpress and win second balls. There are things that belong to the overall philosophy of the club at Mainz. So, for us it is about losing the ball as little as often to their gegenpressing because it is exactly these situations which they create their chances and goals from.”
Previous meetings: On Saturday, the two teams meet for the 31st time in the Bundesliga. Werder have a positive head-to-head record against Mainz. Of the previous 30 games, SVW have won 14 times, with the Zerofivers recording 10 wins. The last win against Mainz will be particularly fondly remembered by Eren Dinkci. On the 13th matchday of the 2020/21 season the striker came on shortly before full time and not only made his debut, but also scored in the 90th minute to give Werder an away win.
Clinical in attack: Werder have the second best attacking record in the league after Bayern (25 goals), having scored 20 goals in nine games. The Green-Whites are also the best in the league in terms of chance conversion, having put away 23% of their shots. Mainz, meanwhile, have had cold feet in front of goal, scoring only 9 goals in the Bundesliga this season. This gives them the second worst attack in the league behind only Bochum (8 goals).
Better than Bayern: werder have scored a whole nine of their goals in the Bundesliga this season after the 80 minute mark. This is as many goals as Mainz have scored in total – and one more than Bayern have scored in the second half.
Poor record away to newly promoted sides: No other current Bundesliga team has such a long run of defeats against promoted sides as Mainz. They have lost their last four games away to newly promoted sides. The Zerofivers are also currently four Bundesliga games without a win this season (2 draws, 2 losses).
Compiled by WERDER.DE and Opta
