FSV prepare to host Freiburg: "We have a solid game plan"

1. FSV Mainz 05 prepare to host SC Freiburg at the MEWA ARENA on Sunday (15:30 CET), in what will be their fourth game under Jan Siewert. The Zerofivers are expected to welcome a crowd of around 30,000 spectators. "In my opinion, this will be the toughest game of my tenure so far," said the head coach. "They play a completely different style compared to, say, Leipzig or Hoffenheim." 

Sunday's game will feature several initiatives as part of the DFB's 'Danke ans Ehrenamt' volunteer appreciation campaign, with the Mainz-Bingen referee association in attendance to raise awareness for the importance of match officials and to encourage individuals to register as referees. 

FSV's current situation 

The Zerofivers are currently riding a four-game unbeaten run in the Bundesliga, picking up five points and conceding just once in their three games under Siewert so far. After having shored up their backline, FSV were able to deliver what was probably their best performance of the season against Hoffenheim last time out. The team certainly deserved more than just a point (1-1), and currently find themselves in 16th with just eight points from the first 12 matchdays. They will need to start picking up as many points as possible before the Bundesliga heads into the winter break. 

Freiburg, meanwhile, have been enjoying more success in their European fixtures this term than in the Bundesliga. They are currently in ninth place with 15 points, but come into the game on the back of a 5-0 thrashing of Olympiacos on Thursday night. As a result, Christian Streich's side have qualified for the knockout stages of the Europa League. 

Team news 

Siewert will be without his usual first-choice goalkeeper, with Robin Zentner sidelined after suffering bone damage to his finger against Hoffenheim. "We're nonetheless spoiled for choice," he said, adding that the team have two reliable goalkeepers available to deputise in the form of Lasse Rieß and Daniel Batz. "One of them will play and will do a fine job of it. We'll make a decision based on the performances from training this week." 

Meanwhile, Dominik Kohr and Sepp van den Berg will be able to return to the squad this weekend after having both served their suspensions. Siewert will therefore be able to revert to his usual options in defence and defensive midfield. "I'm glad that we have a few more options available to us again and that there's competition for places within the squad again. Competition produces results," he said. The head coach had been impressed by their efforts in training during the international break already. "Both are candidates to make the starting XI. But, I also have to consider the efforts of the lads who played against Hoffenheim." The Zerofivers will be without Karim Onisiwo, Nelson Weiper, Maxim Leitsch, Andreas Hanche-Olsen and Josuha Guilavogui this weekend. 

One of the biggest positives from last weekend was the return of Jonathan Burkardt, after nearly a year out with injury. The striker has been consistently improving and has started to regain confidence in his physical abilities. However, Siewart emphasised that it would be important to remain patient, given his long spell on the sidelines. After seeing his first minutes last weekend, Burkardt not only needed to recover physically, but also emotionally. "He's an important option for us off the bench and he will certainly return to the starting line-up as well in due course," said the head coach. 

Against Hoffenheim, FSV were able to fluidly switch from a back-three to a back-four, depending on the flow of the game. "I wouldn't let us play with a back-four if I didn't believe that the players were capable of it," he said. Depending on Freiburg's approach on Sunday, FSV will look to adjust their formation as needed in order to best counteract it. Regardless of how the team line up, they will need to take their chances against SCF this weekend. Siewert had earmarked this as an area with room for improvement following last weekend's game, adding "We need to be precise and clinical with our shots against Freiburg." 

The opposition 

SCF tend to mark their opponents closely, not affording them much room to create chances. "That's why we might not be able to create as much. We therefore need to take the chances that we get," said Siewert. Freiburg have the quality to pose problems for FSV across the pitch, meaning that the hosts will need to concentrate on defending well when out of possession, keeping their opponents away from goal, and remaining compact in order to counter quickly. "Against Olympiacos, Freibug proved that they're able to find the back of the net. We have a good idea of how to counter that. Just like against Hoffenheim, I'm confident that we will be able to feed off of the energy our fans will generate during those moments where we don't have much of the ball. Their support was incredible and is just what we need against on Sunday," said Siewert.