Bundesliga News

Mainz got their Bundesliga campaign up and running on Saturday afternoon with a well earned win over VfL Bochum. Karim Onisiwo headed FSV into the lead in the 26th minute, before former Zerofiver Kevin Stöger leveled for the hosts 13 minutes later. It would prove to be Onisiwo’s day, however, as he scored another header in the 77th minute to give his side all three points.

Although Mainz got their season off to the perfect start in Bochum on Saturday afternoon, the players and the staff are united, in that they believe there is a still lot of work to be done. “It wasn’t our best performance today, but the most important thing was the three points” explained newcomer Maxim Leitsch after the game.

The opening weekend of the 2022/23 Bundesliga season saw 1. FSV Mainz 05 pick up an away win on Matchday 1: this is the first time the Zerofivers have ever began a season in the top flight with a victory on the road, having never achieved this in their 16 previous Bundesliga campaigns. Therefore, yesterday’s 2-1 win in front of 24,000 away at VfL Bochum could be a sign that Bo Svensson’s side are working hard to shake off what was one of their weak points of the previous season and to improve on their record of having the second-worst away record in the league in 2021/22. “We’ve still got a lot of work to do, but picking up three points gives you a good boost and we know what we need to improve on. It’s a very good position for the coach to be in,” commented Martin Schmidt after full time. “The work doesn’t stop here, but three points on the road certainly gives you a real push going into the new season.”

When the line-up was announced an hour before kick-off in the season opener against VfL Bochum, Stefan Bell knew he would be in for a special match. The defender was set to make his 250th competitive appearance for 1. FSV Mainz 05. The milestone appearance puts Bell joint 16th in the club’s list of all-time record appearance makers, level with Christian Hock. The centre-back is also the longest-serving player currently in the squad. With the exception of two loan spells, the 30-year-old has been at FSV since 2007, when he joined the academy from TuS Mayen.  

Silvan Widmer feels that his team is on the right track ahead of the first home game of the season against 1. FC Union Berlin (Sunday, 15:30 CEST). “Our results have been positive, but we need to keep on improving,” said the full-back who missed the win in Bochum due to illness. The Swiss defender is fit again and excited for Sunday’s clash.

Exactly three months after the emotional Rhein-Main derby on the final day of the 2021/22 season, the Zerofivers are finally returning to the MEWA ARENA. This Sunday, FSV are set to take on 1. FC Union Berlin in their first home game of the campaign (15:30 CEST). Around 25,000 fans are expected to attend and there is a certain sense anticipation amongst the players and the coaching staff ahead of the match, not least because of the Zerofivers’ strong home record in recent seasons. Last year, for example, Svensson’s side picked up an impressive 35 points from their 17 home games.

After Mainz started a Bundesliga season with an away win for the first time ever last week by beating Bochum 2-1, they will be hoping to build on this with another victory this Sunday (15:30 CEST) against 1. FC Union Berlin. “Union are a very settled side and know what they’re doing. They test their opponents in a number of ways. We will need answers for all these challenges,” said head coach Bo Svensson at the pre-match press conference on Friday. 

Mainz had to settle for a goalless draw in their first home game of the season against FC Union on Sunday afternoon. It was a cagey affair in the first half and both sides failed to create anything clear-cut. However, the break seemed to breathe new life into the game and both teams went up a gear. Although the Zerofivers created the better chances, it was a still well-earned point in the soaring summer heat.

A goalless draw at the MEWA ARENA kicked off the Zerofivers’ home Bundesliga campaign, as Mainz and Union Berlin shared the points. It was a result which reflected the run of the game, said the team, even if there were chances to win it in the closing stages.

Many expected Mainz’s game against Union on Sunday to be a closely fought contest. The 25,000 fans inside the MEWA ARENA, however, were possibly surprised to have witnessed a very attritional affair, with very little space to play in and it can be said that neither side gave each other an inch. Especially before the break, the game was a gritty, desultory affair with little action in front of goal. “It was a very even first half,” said Martin Schmidt, who didn’t want to commit himself to talking about the “level” of performance after the game. “It was more about the heat level,” explained the Swiss.