Pre-Match Report
"Have to impose our game" – BVB want to go into international break with win in Mainz
The personnel situation is improving slightly: Julian Ryerson and Yan Couto are expected to return to the matchday squad. "They will be involved in the final training session and we're operating under the assumption they'll be okay," said coach Nuri Sahin, who is still without Waldemar Anton, Karim Adeyemi, Gio Reyna, Julien Duranville, Niklas Süle and Kjell Wätjen due to injury. Gregor Kobel is on the right track. "He has not yet trained with the team but has done so individually. We don't want to take any risks with him," said Sahin. Left-back Ramy Bensebaini will miss out, meaning that the coach now needs to reshuffle his defence. Speaking at the pre-match press conference, he praised his back four – who have made a contribution to the Black & Yellows winning on two occasions in their last two matches (against Leipzig and Sturm Graz) and conceding only one goal in the process. "Emre has had very good games. He is very solid, but I can also say that about his other partners. Schlotti has also performed really well and Pascal has been top. Ramy has been very stable in the last matches."
After the two home victories, the mood within the team is slightly more relaxed and easy-going. "Victories always do us good. The way in which we picked up the victories also does us good. It's completely normal that there's more laughter," Sahin observed. Against Mainz, BVB will be looking to pick up their third win in a row and get their first victory of the Bundesliga campaign away from home in order to sign off for the upcoming international break on a successful note.
"Intense, good pressure, clear structure"
The opposition plays "very, very intensely, presses well and has a clear structure. They have a coach (editor's note: Bo Henriksen), who has brought in a lot of euphoria. They have several very good footballers in their ranks," said Sahin. "It will be unpleasant tomorrow. We have to go again once more before the break." The Black & Yellows have won on 11 of their previous 18 visits to the team from Rhenish Hesse. Prior to the defeat in Mainz in May, when many regular players were rested with a view to the upcoming Champions League final, BVB had won six times in succession. Mainz currently occupy 13th position and are winless in four matches across all competitions. In the Bundesliga, they picked up two draws against Gladbach and Freiburg following a defeat to Leipzig. In the DFB-Pokal, they were eliminated by Bayern Munich.
"We will try to pick up important points so that we put ourselves in a better starting position for after the international break," emphasised Sahin, before adding: "We have to stand firm tomorrow, impose our game and get the three points."
Christina Reinke