Whereas the Wolves are hoping to conclude the 2023/24 season on a high note with victory at home against Mainz 05 at the Volkswagen Arena on Saturday (kick-off 15:30 CEST), the visitors are out to stave off the threat of relegation.
The Green-and-Whites have won three and drawn one of the teams’ last four league meetings, with a goal difference of 12:1 in VfL’s favour. If Ralph Hasenhüttl’s charges emerge victorious once again from this assignment, they will finish the campaign with a positive home record, having so far won six, lost six and drawn four.
Further facts and figures
- Top-half finish? The Wolves could still end the season in the top half of the Bundesliga table – but they would need to beat Mainz and hope for favourable results in fixtures elsewhere. Nevertheless, victory would mean that VfL at least reach the 40-point mark.
- Home straight: Mainz are on an impressive eight-game unbeaten run in the league, a sequence currently bettered only by Leverkusen and RB Leipzig. Indeed, the 05ers have collected half of their 32 points so far this term in those eight matches.
- Strong in the tackle: Mainz centre-back Sepp van den Berg has won 66.5 percent of all his challenges this season; Köln’s Jeff Chabot is the only player in the Bundesliga with a higher quota.
- Familiar foes: Mainz native Ridle Baku recorded three goals in 50 Bundesliga outings for his hometown club prior to joining VfL in October 2020.
- Absentees: While Maxim Leitsch (groin) is the only definite absentee for the visitors, the Wolves’ injury list is considerably longer. In addition to Lukas Nmecha (muscular), Yannick Gerhardt (muscle tear), Rogerio (knee surgery), Mattias Svanberg (shoulder), Dzenan Pejcinovic (broken foot) and Aster Vranckx (calf) will all miss out.
