A positive record and a switch of kits

To commence their 2022/2023 season, the Zerofivers travel to the Ruhr this weekend to take on VfL Bochum at the Ruhrstadion. After a successful first round of the cup, FSV want to get off to a winning start in the league. “I want us to bring lots of intensity onto the pitch,” declared Bo Svensson in the pre-match press conference. The memories of Mainz’s last visit to Bochum are not positive ones. The overall record, however, favours us.

Opposition check:

In the 2020/21 season, Bochum celebrated their return to the top-flight after eleven years in the second division. With the goal of survival, VfL got off to a bumpy start in the 2021/22 season, sat second-bottom after seven games, having only accumulated four points. After that, Bochum really managed to turn it around. They picked up points from rivals and celebrated some spectacular wins, like their 4-2 win over Bayern Munich or their 4-3 defeat of Borussia Dortmund in the small Revier-derby on matchday 32. The latter secured their survival at an early point in the season.

Record:

After 18 match-ups with Bochum, the overall record lies in Mainz’s favour with nine wins, two draws and seven defeats. Of the last four meetings, however, the Zerofivers have only managed one win and were knocked out of the DFB-Pokal twice in a row by the club from the Ruhr.

Only four points:

At the end of the 2021/22 season, a mere four points separated the two sides in spite of the five places between them in the table. Mainz finished 8th with 46 points, whilst Bochum were 13th with 42 points.

Successful competitive start:

Both clubs convincingly won their first round matches in the DFB-Pokal by a 3-0 scoreline. While Mainz put away Erzgebirge Aue on Sunday evening, Bochum overcame Viktoria Berlin.

OTHER FACTS AND STATS

Continuity:

Head coaches Thomas Reis and Bo Svensson are both amongst the five longest serving managers in the Bundesliga. The Bochum man is third after his two years and eleven months in office. Svensson has been in the dugout of the Rheinhessen side for a year and seven months.

Players turned head coaches:

Both men also spent a significant portion of their careers at the clubs they now coach. Svensson represented Mainz from 2007 until 2017, and Reis played for Bochum between 1995 and 2003.

Switch of kits:

In the summer, two current players in the form of Kevin Stöger and Maxim Leitsch switched uniforms. Leitsch now dons the FSV-kit, whilst Stöger puts on the blue and white of Bochum.

A long time ago:

The last away win for the Zerofivers in Bochum dates back to 19th September 2009, when a goal from Andreas Ivanschitz as well as a brace from André Schürrle ensured a 3-2 away victory. Since then, however, Mainz have only visited Bochum twice.

A cartoon as extra motivation:

Ahead of the clash between the two sides on matchday 31 of the 2004/05 season, a cartoon in the Bochum matchday programme became the stuff of legend amongst fans. In artist Guido Schröter’s cartoon, the scoreboard showed that Bochum would win the game 6-2. However, Mainz actually went on to win the game by that very scoreline and guaranteed their Bundesliga safety with a few games to spare in the process.