Olomouc vs Mainz – News and Probable Lineups

A historic evening awaits at the Andruv Stadium this Thursday as the Czech side Sigma Olomouc and Germany’s Mainz 05 prepare to make their entrances into the last 16 of the Europa Conference League.

Sigma has not experienced this level of football since the 1990s, while Die Nullfunfer are making history with their first appearance in the knockout phase of a European competition.

Match overview

In an era not too long ago, Sigma Olomouc found themselves competing at the Santiago Bernabeu, achieving victories against prominent German team Hamburgo SV, and even taking on the formidable Juventus.

Those unforgettable moments from continental competitions occurred in the early 1990s, but fans who either did not witness those UEFA Cup campaigns or long for a new European chapter now see their team embarking on a revival.

Sigma’s journey through the league phase of the Europa Conference League this season wasn’t particularly memorable; however, they still managed to secure the 24th position and claimed the final qualifying spot available.

They followed this with a strong performance against Swiss team Lausanne in the playoff round, where they drew 1-1 at home before achieving a notable 2-1 victory away.

Confidence is high for Tomas Janotka and his squad, as they remain undefeated in their last five matches and have recorded four consecutive wins.

While Sigma is undergoing a European renaissance, Mainz is etching their name in club history as they gear up for their inaugural last 16 match in a significant European championship.

Die Nullfunfer avoided the playoff round of the Conference League by winning four out of their six matches in the league phase, finishing in seventh place.

In addition to making an impact on the European stage, Mainz has also seen improvements in the Bundesliga, climbing out of the relegation zone under their newly appointed head coach, Urs Fischer.

The Swiss manager took over from Bo Henriksen in December and has only experienced two defeats in 14 matches—an impressive turnaround considering the team lost 12 of their 21 matches beforehand.

While ensuring survival in the Bundesliga remains the priority for Mainz, the European fixture on Thursday will provide a pleasant diversion as they aim to break their current streak of three consecutive draws.

Sigma Olomouc Conference League form:

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Sigma Olomouc form (all competitions):

L D W W W W

Mainz 05 Conference League form:

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Mainz 05 form (all competitions):

W W L D D D

Team News

As Sigma heads into this crucial match on Thursday, they face challenges with a long list of absentees.

Winter acquisition John Dembe has yet to contribute to the team due to a knee injury sustained since his arrival.

Defenders Jan Kral and Michal Leibl are both sidelined due to injuries, and midfielder David Tkac will also miss out due to a muscle issue.

Additionally, Abdoulaye Sylla is ruled out due to a suspension after receiving three yellow cards in the competition.

Mainz is grappling with its own share of absences, including key midfielder Nadiem Amiri, who has missed the last two matches due to a heel injury.

Amiri had found the net five times in his previous five appearances while also contributing an assist.

Defender Anthony Caci has struggled with a thigh injury for the majority of the season, and the French player will also not feature this Thursday night.

Benedict Hollerbach is also sidelined with an Achilles tendon injury, while Maxim Dal and Robin Zentner remain uncertain for the match.

Sigma Olomouc probable starting XI:

Koutny; Slavicek, Maly, Slama, Hadas; Barath, Rusek, Beran; Sip, Kliment, Sturm

Mainz 05 probable starting XI:

Batz; Widmer, Kohr, da Costa, Posch, Mwene; Nebel, Lee, Sano; Silas, Tietz

In this initial leg, avoiding defeat will hold more significance than securing a victory as both teams prepare for a remarkable encounter.

There’s a lot to gain in this match, and we anticipate a score of 1-1 as both teams find the net.