After a disastrous begin underneath Bo Henriksen noticed Mainz languishing within the backside two heading into December, relegation appeared an actual risk for the membership regardless of securing European soccer only a season earlier.
With the membership’s hierarchy unable to carry out any longer, they pulled the set off on the Dane earlier than appointing Urs Fischer as their new head coach in December.
After a gentle however unspectacular finish to 2025 in his first few video games in cost, the 05ers by no means appeared again in 2026, dropping simply two of their opening 12 league video games of the calendar 12 months. Mainz finally secured a cushty Tenth-place end, placing any relegation fears to mattress, whereas additionally reaching the quarter-finals of the Convention League.
The membership will now look to take the subsequent step underneath Fischer. With a full pre-season underneath his belt, these across the membership will undoubtedly be wanting ahead to seeing what the brand new marketing campaign can convey.
Pre-season performances
Mainz loved a powerful and unbeaten pre-season marketing campaign, successful seven of their eight fixtures whereas drawing the opposite.
They appeared potent in assault, scoring 38 targets throughout these eight video games, with forwards Philipp Tietz, Sheraldo Becker and new signing Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer all impressing in entrance of purpose.
Their most notable victories got here towards Premier League outfit Bournemouth (2-1), Paris FC (4-0), Holstein Kiel (3-0) and Kaiserslautern (4-1).
Whereas the Bundesliga marketing campaign is but to get underway, Mainz have already begun their aggressive season, defeating fifth-tier aspect Krieschow 9-0 within the DFB-Pokal final weekend. Tietz was as soon as once more the star of the present, scoring 4 targets.
Transfers
Mainz have loved a sensible and pretty shrewd switch window underneath Fischer, complementing their current squad with some thrilling new faces whereas sustaining the core of the crew. Most of their departures have been gamers who weren’t thought-about a part of the speedy first-team image.
Final season’s loanees Stefan Posch, Sheraldo Becker and Sota Kawasaki all returned on everlasting offers from Como, Osasuna and Kyoto Sanga respectively.
Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer and Eric Martel each arrived on free transfers from HSV and 1. FC Köln, bringing Bundesliga expertise to Fischer’s squad. Fabio Gruber joined from Nürnberg, whereas goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow returned to Germany following a spell with Hearts in Scotland.
When it comes to outgoings, Nikolas Veratschnig, Arnaud Nordin, Daniel Batz, Maxim Leitsch, Tom Krauß, Ben Bobzien and Maxim Dal all departed on everlasting offers.
Nelson Weiper, Kasey Bos, Lasse Rieß and Daniel Gleiber left on mortgage, whereas Armindo Sieb returned to his guardian membership.
Predicted beginning lineup
As showcased within the opening aggressive fixture of the season, Fischer seems set to stay along with his tried-and-tested 3-5-2 formation, which has served him effectively elsewhere and with Mainz since his arrival.
The backbone of the crew is predicted to stay largely unchanged, with the membership additionally wanting prone to retain key gamers corresponding to Kaishu Sano and Nadiem Amiri.
3-5-2: Zentner; da Costa, Gruber, Posch; Caci, Lee, Sano, Amiri, Mwene; Becker, Tietz
Eric Martel and Paul Nebel are set to overlook the beginning of the season via damage, whereas Benedict Hollerbach continues his restoration following the Achilles tendon damage he suffered in January.
Predictions for the upcoming season
With no European soccer to take care of this time round, Mainz will be capable of dedicate their full consideration to home issues, which ought to profit them over the course of the marketing campaign.
On the very least, one other snug mid-table end ought to be inside their attain, given Fischer’s expertise within the dugout and the truth that the core of the squad that carried out so effectively in the course of the second half of final season stays intact.
The Bundesliga is all the time able to producing surprises, nevertheless, and there’s actually scope for Mainz to problem increased up the desk.
Fischer beforehand guided Union Berlin to Champions League soccer, and if Mainz could make a robust begin to the marketing campaign, there isn’t a purpose why they can’t dream of sneaking into the highest seven.
With newly promoted Paderborn visiting the MEWA Enviornment on Matchday 1, Mainz have a superb alternative to put down an early marker and start the season on the entrance foot.