Mainz welcome Norwegian side Rosenborg to the Mewa Arena this Thursday for the decisive second-leg of their UEFA Conference League qualifier.
Mainz 05
Mainz enter Thursday’s game in dire need of a statement performance to extend their European adventure whilst simultaneously kick-starting their season following a shaky start. Die Nullfünfer find themselves 2-1 down from the first leg after a poor performance in Trondheim which saw them dominate possession but create very few clear cut chances.
Last weekend brought little relief for Bo Henriksen’s side, who fell 1-0 at home to newly promoted FC Köln in their Bundesliga opener. Mainz once again dominated possession but managed just two shots on target from 19 attempts. Their wastefulness was punished in the 90th minute by Marius Bülter, after Paul Nebel’s red card on the hour mark had left them a man down. Questions quickly arose over whether their European commitments were already taking a toll, but defender Danny da Costa dismissed the suggestion: “We gave it our best and had a really good run today. We worked hard even with one man less, so blaming last Thursday’s game [vs Rosenborg] is too easy.”
In the first leg, Mainz looked content to settle for a 1-1 draw before Ole Sæter’s late winner flipped the tie on its head. Henriksen will demand more attacking urgency at home, knowing his side must set the tone from the start if they are to unsettle the likely stubborn Rosenborg set up and overturn the deficit. Speaking ahead of the game, the Mainz head coach said: “We are well prepared to deal with the opponents’ low block. We know it’s going to be difficult. Despite this, we believe we can create chances.”
The squad will also welcome the familiarity of home surroundings after an unsavoury incident in Norway, where the team bus had three wheels stolen prior to the first leg. Thursday’s fixture marks Mainz’s first European home game since 2016, and the fans will be expected to generate a fierce atmosphere as the club aims to complete its first-ever comeback from a first-leg deficit in European competition.
Team news:
Following a muscle injury sustained in Sunday’s loss, striker Benedict Hollerbach is likely to be unavailable for the foreseeable future. There are no other fresh injury concerns at this time. Nelson Weiper featured against Köln and could be set to lead the line Thursday following the end of his contract dispute.
Rosenborg
Rosenborg travel to Germany full of confidence after a disciplined display and deserved first-leg win against their more fancied opponents. Alfred Johansson’s side knows all the pressure rests on Mainz, and that composure could prove decisive over 90 minutes.
Not only do the Norwegians hold the advantage on aggregate, but they also benefit from fresher legs. With no domestic Eliteserien fixture scheduled this week, Rosenborg have enjoyed additional recovery time in preparation for the trip to Mainz – an advantage that may become crucial if the tie goes to extra time.
Form-wise, Rosenborg are in solid shape, having lost just two of their last 10 matches. They currently sit fifth in the Eliteserien, but their stature in Europe stretches far beyond current league standing. The Trondheim club has featured in 285 matches in UEFA competitions, winning 115 times. However, they have not reached a group stage since the 2019/20 season, making this tie an opportunity to restore some of their continental pedigree.
Team news:
There are no fresh injury concerns for Johansson and Rosenborg, they could well remain unchanged following the success of the first leg.
Predicted line-ups
Mainz 05 (3-4-2-1): Zentner (GK) – Kohr, Bell, da Costa – Mwene, Amiri, Sano, Caci – Nebel, Lee Jae-Sung – Weiper
Rosenborg BK (4-3-3): Tangvik (GK) – Witry, M.Ceide, Nemcík, Pereira – Väänänen, Selnæs, Nordli – Reitan-Sunde, Islamović, E.Ceide
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