Matchday in focus: 1. FSV Mainz 05 | OneFootball

A closer look at Eintracht’s misfiring opponents, who rely heavily on midfielder Nadiem Amiri.

Tactics

Head coach Bo Henriksen has primarily used a 3-4-2-1 formation this season. Robin Zentner is the first-choice goalkeeper behind a three-man backline comprising former Eintracht player Dominik Kohr on the left, either Stefan Bell or Lennard Maloney in the centre, and one of Danny da Costa – who also used to play for the Eagles – or Andreas Hanche-Olsen on the right. Denmark native Henriksen usually employs four in midfield ahead of them.

Mainz play with a lot of variety going forward. Jae-sung Lee and Paul Nebel are the regular starters in attacking midfield, behind either Benedict Hollerbach or Armindo Sieb.

Following the team’s 2-1 victory over ACF Fiorentina in the UEFA Conference League on Thursday evening, Henriksen did not rule out rotating his side to face Eintracht, with Mainz second from bottom on just five points going into Matchday 10: “We’ve got a good team and I have no problem using different players. In our situation, the Bundesliga is the most important competition.”

Mainz have only scored ten goals in nine Bundesliga games so far in 2025/26. Their chance conversion is just nine percent, although they have hit the woodwork more often than any other club. At the other end of the pitch, Henriksen’s charges have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last 20 league assignments, which is an unwanted ongoing club record.

“Mainz have a very intensive style,” said Eintracht head coach Dino Toppmöller. “They have a lot of quality in winning second balls and they can link up well and in a very eye-catching way in the opposition half. Mainz will put us under pressure early on and try to stress us.”

Absentees

The Eagles will be without Can Uzun and Oscar Højlund, who are both suffering from muscular injuries.

For Mainz, Maxim Dal (cruciate ligament tear) and Anthony Caci (thigh injury) are sidelined.

One to watch: Nadiem Amiri

Since joining from Bayer Leverkusen, Amiri has become a central pillar for Mainz in midfield.

A technically gifted player, he has started every competitive game for the club this season except for their Conference League assignment against Zrinjski Mostar. In the Bundesliga, Amiri has already converted three penalties and provided an assist.

Furthermore...

Facts and figures

Eintracht have only lost three of their last 15 Bundesliga assignments stretching back to last season. Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are the only teams with fewer top-flight defeats in that period. Mainz, on the other hand, have only won two of their last 15 in the Bundesliga.

The Eagles’ recent strike against Heidenheim was the team’s fourth headed goal this season, a league high shared with Borussia Mönchengladbach.

The 05ers are one of three teams yet to score from a header in 2025/26.