An aerial battle awaits

1. FSV Mainz 05 play away to 1. FC Köln on Saturday afternoon on matchday 28. Kick off at the RheinEnergieStadion is at 15:30 CEST. Mainz will be looking to extend their eight-game unbeaten run in pursuit of a top-six finish. “We’re really up for it. I think it will be a game full of emotion,” explained head coach Bo Svensson at the pre-match press conference. Around 3,600 Mainz fans will make the journey to Cologne to support the club.

Facts and stats on #KOESVW

Eight games unbeaten

Mainz are now unbeaten in eight Bundesliga games (W5, D3), the club’s longest undefeated run in two years (9 games back then).

Köln’s winless run is over

1. FC Köln’s 3-1 away win at FC Augsburg last time out ended their six-game winless streak in the Bundesliga.

Good memories

Mainz won the reverse fixture 5-0 at the MEWA ARENA, the biggest victory in the club’s Bundesliga history. This remains Köln’s heaviest defeat under Steffen Baumgart.

Second-best return

Mainz have been the league’s third-best side in the second half of the season. 41 points from 27 matchdays represents the second-best return in the club’s top-flight history. FSV were only better off in 2010/11 under Thomas Tuchel, with 44 points from 27 games back then.

Dangerous new signing

Ludovic Ajorque is the most prolific winter signing in the Bundesliga with four goals and two assists to his name. After five goalless games to start, the Frenchman has found the net four times in his last six games.

Clinical from counter-attacks

Only two teams have scored more goals after recovering the ball from the opposition than FSV (11).

Aerial battle

Ajorque could come up against Köln centre-backs Julian Chabot and Timo Hübers, who won 91% and 86% of their aerial duels respectively against Augsburg.

Get it out wide

70% of Köln’s goals this season in the Bundesliga have been created out wide, the biggest proportion for any side. They have scored 10 times from crosses from open play, a league best. Mainz are second in this ranking with nine goals.

Strong in the air

Mainz have registered a league-high 77 headed shots this season, scoring nine goals from them – no side has scored more headers. Köln, when you consider how many crosses they send in, have only managed a paltry 44 headed shots – only Leverkusen have had fewer.

Due a goal at home

1. FC Köln are on a three-game wait for a goal at home, the longest spell in the league.

Solid in defence

Only FC Bayern have a lower xGA than Köln in the Bundesliga this season. Additionally, only VfL Wolfsburg have faced fewer clear-cut chances than the Billy Goats.

Two teams that cover a lot of ground

Mainz 05 and 1. FC Köln both cover lots of ground and record a high number of intensive runs per game. FSV are ranked fourth in both regards, whereas Köln are first and second respectively.

Referee

Benjamin Cortus will take charge of Saturday’s game. He will be assisted by Florian Heft and Norbert Grudzinski. Rafael Foltyn will be the fourth official.