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The Zerofivers will start the new year with an away match against VfB Stuttgart in the Mercedes-Benz Arena on Saturday afternoon (15:30 CET), marking the end of the long World Cup and winter break. It starts “a new kind of season”, explained Mainz head coach Bo Svensson at the press conference on Thursday. Stuttgart are a “very good opponent” with “high individual quality in attack and defence”, continued Svensson. You can find all other statements of the Dane before the start of the second half of the season here.
Lots of crosses…
Only two Bundesliga clubs have crossed the ball more from open play than the Zerofivers, who have completed 164 such crosses so far this season.
…and headers
Accordingly, when it comes to headed efforts, Mainz are also ahead of every other Bundesliga side, having attempted 45. Stuttgart are second with 42 headers.
Good away from home
Mainz have won four of their five matches this season away from home and are fourth in the away table. However, they have lost on both their last two trips to Stuttgart, last picking up points away at the Swabians in a 3-2 victory in January 2019.
Not a good record after the break – but there’s hope
In the last three years, Mainz have always lost their first game after the winter break, with the last win to start the year coming in 2019 (3-2 at VfB Stuttgart).
Home force under Wimmer
VfB Stuttgart won all four home games under interim manager Michael Wimmer, three of which were in the Bundesliga and one in the DFB-Pokal. In both the 2-1 victories against FC Augsburg and Hertha BSC, the match-winning goal only came in injury time.
New coach, familiar face
In December 2022, Bruno Labbadia returned as head coach of the Swabians for the second time. The Darmstadt native was previously employed in this role at the club from 2010 to 2013.
“Goals guaranteed” in Stuttgart
The Zerofivers played their very first Bundesliga match on 8th August 2004 in Stuttgart, losing 4-2 under head coach Jürgen Klopp. Since then, the matchup in Stuttgart has never ended goalless.
New arrival
Andreas Hanche-Olsen is set to make his competitive debut for Mainz. The Norwegian joined FSV from KAA Gent and made his debut for the club in a friendly against TSG Hoffenheim last weekend.
Same number of points as last season
Stuttgart are currently in 16th place with 17 points from 15 games. They went into the winter break with 17 points last season as well, although they had played 17 games by that point.
Under renovation
The Mercedes-Benz Arena in Stuttgart is currently undergoing renovations ahead of EURO 2024. The construction work began in May 2022.
Double game week
The match against Stuttgart marks the start of an intense run of games for the Zerofivers over the next two weeks. Three home games against Borussia Dortmund, VfL Bochum and against FC Bayern in the DFB-Pokal will be followed by an away game against 1. FC Union Berlin.
Officials
Dr. Felix Brych will officiate the match against VfB, alongside linesmen Mark Borsch and Stefan Lupp.
The Zerofivers will start the new year with an away match against VfB Stuttgart in the Mercedes-Benz Arena on Saturday afternoon (15:30 CET), marking the end of the long World Cup and winter break. It starts “a new kind of season”, explained Mainz head coach Bo Svensson at the press conference on Thursday. Stuttgart are a “very good opponent” with “high individual quality in attack and defence”, continued Svensson. You can find all other statements of the Dane before the start of the second half of the season here.
Lots of crosses…
Only two Bundesliga clubs have crossed the ball more from open play than the Zerofivers, who have completed 164 such crosses so far this season.
…and headers
Accordingly, when it comes to headed efforts, Mainz are also ahead of every other Bundesliga side, having attempted 45. Stuttgart are second with 42 headers.
Good away from home
Mainz have won four of their five matches this season away from home and are fourth in the away table. However, they have lost on both their last two trips to Stuttgart, last picking up points away at the Swabians in a 3-2 victory in January 2019.
Not a good record after the break – but there’s hope
In the last three years, Mainz have always lost their first game after the winter break, with the last win to start the year coming in 2019 (3-2 at VfB Stuttgart).
Home force under Wimmer
VfB Stuttgart won all four home games under interim manager Michael Wimmer, three of which were in the Bundesliga and one in the DFB-Pokal. In both the 2-1 victories against FC Augsburg and Hertha BSC, the match-winning goal only came in injury time.
New coach, familiar face
In December 2022, Bruno Labbadia returned as head coach of the Swabians for the second time. The Darmstadt native was previously employed in this role at the club from 2010 to 2013.
“Goals guaranteed” in Stuttgart
The Zerofivers played their very first Bundesliga match on 8th August 2004 in Stuttgart, losing 4-2 under head coach Jürgen Klopp. Since then, the matchup in Stuttgart has never ended goalless.
New arrival
Andreas Hanche-Olsen is set to make his competitive debut for Mainz. The Norwegian joined FSV from KAA Gent and made his debut for the club in a friendly against TSG Hoffenheim last weekend.
Same number of points as last season
Stuttgart are currently in 16th place with 17 points from 15 games. They went into the winter break with 17 points last season as well, although they had played 17 games by that point.
Under renovation
The Mercedes-Benz Arena in Stuttgart is currently undergoing renovations ahead of EURO 2024. The construction work began in May 2022.
Double game week
The match against Stuttgart marks the start of an intense run of games for the Zerofivers over the next two weeks. Three home games against Borussia Dortmund, VfL Bochum and against FC Bayern in the DFB-Pokal will be followed by an away game against 1. FC Union Berlin.
Officials
Dr. Felix Brych will officiate the match against VfB, alongside linesmen Mark Borsch and Stefan Lupp.
