Mainz 05 vs Fiorentina Conference League preview: Team news and predicted lineups | OneFootball

Mainz 05

With their domestic struggles continuing - currently sitting in the Bundesliga relegation zone - Mainz will be relieved to switch focus back to Europe. Both of their only two wins from their last eight fixtures have come in this competition, and they’ve made a perfect start to the group stage with two wins from two.

Their most recent Bundesliga outing brought a small step in the right direction by ending the streak of domestic losses. Despite a late Jens Stage equaliser denying them all three points against Werder Bremen, the 1-1 draw showed slight signs of improvement for Henriksen’s men. The Dane will now hope his side can use the European stage to build much-needed confidence and momentum.

Mainz’s victories over Omonia Nicosia and Zrinjski Mostar - both narrow 1-0 wins - underline their efficiency in Europe so far, but Fiorentina will represent a far sterner test. Thursday’s clash should serve as a clear indicator of how far Mainz can realistically go in this competition.

Captain Nadiem Amiri is relishing the challenge awaiting them: 

“Fiorentina has a good team. I still know a few guys from my time at Genoa and from the Bundesliga. We're not scared, we're looking forward to the game,” he said, before adding, “Evening matches are always special, especially international games. The anticipation for such nights is particularly great for everyone”

Team news: 

Mainz have no new injury concerns. Anthony Caci, Maxim Dal, and Maxim Leitsch remain sidelined.

Fiorentina

Remarkably, Fiorentina’s domestic fortunes have been even worse than Mainz’s. Winless in their first ten Serie A games, they sit bottom of the table. Yet like their hosts, La Viola have found solace in Europe - winning both of their Conference League fixtures so far, scoring five and conceding none to sit top of their group.

Last weekend’s shock 1-0 home defeat to Lecce, sealed by a Medon Berisha strike, proved to be the final straw for Stefano Pioli, who was dismissed in the aftermath. U19 coach Daniele Galloppa steps in as interim manager and will take charge on Thursday, tasked with steadying the ship and reigniting Fiorentina’s season.

This will be the first-ever meeting between the two clubs, but Fiorentina’s overall record against German opposition doesn’t inspire confidence - just four wins from sixteen encounters, with nine defeats.

Still, their pedigree in this competition is undeniable. Having reached back-to-back finals in 2022/23 and 2023/24 before a semi-final run last season, Fiorentina will be desperate to finally go one step further and lift the trophy this time around.

Team news: 

Tariq Lamptey and Robin Gosens are Fiorentina’s only absentees. 

Predicted lineups

Mainz 05 (3-4-2-1): Zentner (GK); da Costa, Kohr, Potulski; Nordin, Sano, Amiri, Mwene; Hollerbach, Nebel; Weiper 

Fiorentina (3-5-2): de Gea (GK); Comuzzo, Mari, Ranieri; Dodô, Ndour, Nicolussi Caviglia, Fagioli, Fortini; Džeko, Kean