Mainz vs Strasbourg – News and Probable Lineups

Two teams that are enjoying notable unbeaten streaks will clash in the Conference League quarter-finals this Thursday, as Mainz 05 hosts Strasbourg at MEWA Arena for the first leg of their encounter.

Die Nullfunfer head into this match aiming for a fourth consecutive victory, while Le Racing is targeting their third win in a row.

Match overview

Upon Urs Fischer’s appointment as head coach in December, Mainz was grappling with the potential of relegation from the Bundesliga due to a rough start to the season; however, it’s evident that the former manager of Union Berlin and Basel has revitalized the squad.

Recently, Die Nullfunfer built upon their impressive 2-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt on March 22 by defeating Champions League contenders Hoffenheim by the same scoreline on Saturday, thanks to a double from Phillip Tietz.

This victory extended Fischer’s team’s unbeaten run to eight matches across all competitions, moving them up to ninth place in the Bundesliga, and they will enter this quarter-final with significantly heightened confidence compared to their performance during the league stage.

To reach this point, Mainz overcame Czech side Sigma Olomouc in the Conference League’s round of 16, drawing 0-0 in the first leg before advancing with a 2-0 win in the second leg at MEWA Arena.

With the opportunity to kick off the final eight on their home ground, the hosts are eager to establish a lead to take into the second leg, and given that Die Nullfunfer has won all five of their home matches in UEFA’s third-tier tournament this season, supporters will be cautiously optimistic.

Meanwhile, Gary O’Neil has also managed to maintain a commendable unbeaten streak since taking over at Strasbourg, following the departure of former manager Liam Rosenior to Chelsea.

Le Racing finished at the top of the Conference League’s league phase to qualify for the round of 16, where they defeated Croatian champions HNK Rijeka 3-2 on aggregate, winning 2-1 away on March 12, followed by a 1-1 draw at Stade de la Meinau a week later.

Overall, under O’Neil’s leadership, Strasbourg has not lost a match in Europe this season, securing six victories and two draws from eight matches, including a notable 2-1 win over Crystal Palace on November 27.

Similar to their opponents, the Ligue 1 club concluded their schedule before the international break with a victory – 3-2 against Nantes – and returned to action with another win, beating Nice 3-1 on April 4.

Consequently, Strasbourg currently boasts an unbeaten run of ten matches, dating back to an unexpected 2-1 defeat against Le Havre in early February, and O’Neil has only witnessed two losses in his 16 matches in charge.

Nonetheless, if one were to identify a weakness in the visitors’ recent performance, it is worth noting that they have won only two of their last five away games, with two draws and one loss.

Team News

Mainz is grappling with an extensive injury list this week, particularly in their defensive line, where they are without centre-backs Stefan Bell (knee), Andreas Hanche-Olsen (muscle) and Maxim Dal (knee), along with right wing-back Anthony Caci (tendon) and goalkeeper Robin Zentner (groin).

In their absence, Fischer might consider deploying a back three consisting of Danny da Costa, Stefan Posch, and Dominik Kohr in front of keeper Daniel Batz, flanked by Silvan Widmer and Phillipp Mwene.

Additionally, midfielder Nadiem Amiri is out due to a heel injury, while forwards Benedict Hollerbach and Silas Katompa Mvumpa are sidelined for the remainder of the season with respective Achilles and ankle injuries.

Considering these absences, Armindo Sieb could partner with Phillip Tietz up front – especially since fellow loanee Sheraldo Becker is not included in Mainz’s Conference League squad – supported by Paul Nebel, Kaishu Sano, and Lee Jae-sung in midfield.

On the other hand, Strasbourg will miss Joaquin Panichelli (who netted twice against Nantes) after the striker suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury on March 26, although Gessime Yassine, Sebastian Nanasi, and Martial Godo are expected to be available to start behind the adaptable Julio Enciso.

Le Racing is also without midfielder Junior Mwanga due to a shoulder issue, along with left wing-back Diego Moreira, who is dealing with a sprained ankle, so Ben Chilwell and Guela Doue could feature at full-back, while Samir El Mourabet and Maxi Oyedele may operate in a double pivot.

Mainz 05 probable starting XI:

Batz; Da Costa, Posch, Kohr; Widmer, Nebel, Sano, Lee, Mwene; Sieb, Tietz

Strasbourg probable starting XI:

Penders; Doue, Omobamidele, Doukoure, Chilwell; El Mourabet, Oyedele; Yassine, Nanasi, Godo; The secret

Since Fischer’s arrival, Mainz has demonstrated notable form, and they will enter this quarter-final brimming with confidence on the heels of a three-match winning streak.

However, Strasbourg has found success in European competitions under both Rosenior and O’Neil, and with the latter overseeing an ongoing 10-match unbeaten run, the visitors are anticipated to keep the tie competitive before the return leg.