Preview: Mainz 05 vs Sigma Olomouc – prediction, team news, lineups

With the primary leg having ended goalless, Mainz 05‘s dwelling conflict within the Conference League’s spherical of 16 with Sigma Olomouc at Mewa Arena on Thursday is finely poised.

Neither facet have been significantly adventurous when they faced each other last week, and so they have been one in every of solely two spherical of 16 ties to finish and not using a objective within the first leg.

Match preview

Mainz not solely managed to maintain their first clear sheet in 5 video games after their stalemate within the first leg, however they managed to attain twice without reply against Werder Bremen within the Bundesliga on Sunday.

The membership have persistently confirmed arduous to beat having solely misplaced twice of their final 16 video games, and they’re undefeated in 5 matches.

Urs Fischer‘s facet did draw 4 occasions in that unbeaten stretch, scoring simply six objectives, and so they have solely netted thrice of their 4 most up-to-date European clashes.

There is an argument that Die Nullfunfer can be higher served in the event that they have been eradicated from the Conference League given they’re liable to demotion from the Bundesliga, with simply three factors and three locations separating them from the relegation zone.

Mainz will really feel that they will get the higher of the guests contemplating they’re unbeaten in seven fixtrues at Mewa Arena, a interval through which they gained 5 occasions.

© Imago / Branislav Racko

Sigma solely produced one shot on the right track within the first leg – a speculative effort from vary – however they deserve credit score for limiting Thursday’s hosts to 2 efforts on the right track.

Tomas Janotka‘s team had scored of their prior seven Conference League outings, and their clear sheet was their first in any of their 9 matches within the competitors this season.

The Czech facet are collaborating within the knockout levels of a European event for the primary time since 2004-05, although they did attain the semi-remaining of the Intertoto Cup earlier than dropping to German membership Borussia Dortmund in 2005-06.

Hanaci come into Thursday’s conflict having triumphed in 4 and drawn three of their previous seven matches in all competitions, scoring two or extra objectives 4 of these video games.

Sigma’s fortunes on their travels has been combined, as whereas they are going to be hoping to increase their profitable streak on the highway to 4 matches, they’ve gained two and misplaced two of their final 4 away fixtures within the Conference League.

Mainz 05 Conference League kind:

Mainz 05 kind (all competitions):

Sigma Olomouc Conference League kind:

Sigma Olomouc kind (all competitions):

Team News

© Imago / Sven Simon

Considering Mainz shall be with out centre-backs Andreas Hanche-Olsen and Stefan Bell, Fischer is about to show to Danny da Costa, Stefan Posch and Dominik Kohr.

The absence of defensive midfielder Nadiem Amiri due to a heel downside has thinned the hosts’ choices, so Paul Nebel, Kaishu Sano and Jae-Sung Lee could need to be relied upon as soon as once more.

Phillip Tietz and Silas Katompa Mvumpa each began in superior roles within the first leg, and the duo will hope to retain their locations within the XI.

With Sigma defender Jan Kral dominated out as a consequence of damage, anticipate to see Abdoulaye Sylla, Filip Slavicek and Jakub Elbel stationed in a again three.

Number 9 Vaclav Sejk will hope to open the scoring on Thursday, although he’ll want fellow forwards Danijel Sturm and Antonin Rusek to be at their artistic greatest.

Mainz 05 attainable beginning lineup:

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

Sigma Olomouc attainable beginning lineup:

Koutny; Sylla, Slavicek, Elbel; Sip, Beran, Barath, Lurvink; Sturm, Rusek; Sejk

We say: Mainz 05 1-0 Sigma Olomouc (Mainz win 1-0 on combination)

Mainz boast the benefit of enjoying the second leg at dwelling, and Mewa Arena has been a fortress for them in current weeks.

Sigma Olomouc have very restricted expertise as a membership within the knockout levels of European soccer, and given their away file is combined, their journey within the Conference League might finish on Thursday.

For information evaluation of the most definitely outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click here.