Mainz hope to carry their Conference League momentum into the Bundesliga where the bottom club host fellow strugglers St Pauli in their final match of the year on Sunday. Mainz beat Turkey's Samsunspor 2-0 on Thursday to qualify directly for the last 16 of Europe's third tier event.
Mainz hope to carry their Conference League momentum into the Bundesliga where the bottom club host fellow strugglers St Pauli in their final match of the year on Sunday.
Mainz beat Turkey's Samsunspor 2-0 on Thursday to qualify directly for the last 16 of Europe's third tier event.
They now hope for the same against St Pauli and a first Bundesliga home victory since February, when they beat the Hamburg club 2-0.
Mainz have one win from 14 league matches this season but have showed improved form since Urs Fischer replaced Bo Henriksen as coach last week. They played to an impressive 2-2 draw runaway leaders Bayern Munich on Sunday and then delighted in victory in Europe.
"It was a small step in the right direction. I believe this was our by far best performance of the season. But can build on this. I am so proud of the lads," forward Nadiem Amiri told broadcasters RTL.
Captain Silvan Widmer said that "we must carry this positivity into Sunday's match" and went on to praise Fischer.
"Urs Fischer has huge experience and has worked with us in the tactical area. We saw that this has already brought results," Widmer said.
Mainz can move within one point of St Pauli who are in the relegation play-off spot but Fischer warned the the fight against the drop will be "a very long" one although victories like on Thursday can help getting out of the lowlands like they did in 2021 and 2024.
Fischer said that the players "should really enjoy the victory after they have endured" while sporting director Niko Bungert looked ahead.
"From now on it is only about the 90 minutes against St Pauli - right away," he said.
Category: General Sports
