How Mainz have improved since previous meeting with Bayern
How Mainz have improved since previous meeting with Bayern When 1. FSV Mainz 05 and FC Bayern last met five months ago, things looked quite different for Mainz. The Rhineland-Palatinate club had experienced a miserable campaign up to that point and travelled to Munich with six points from 13 matches, bottom of the table and having just parted company with coach Bo Henriksen.
Urs Fischer made his debut in the 05ers’ dugout at the Allianz Arena and breathed new life into the relegation strugglers. Although stats provider Opta registered 24-5 shots on goal and a staggering 85 percent possession for the hosts, the Munich men needed a late penalty from Harry Kane to salvage a 2-2 draw against the tireless visitors (132. 5 km distance run is the highest number this season).
That was already a first sign of what has played out over the last half-season. Fischer has got Mainz back on track with his calm manner. The Swiss has guided the team to tenth place with 28 points from 17 matches, which puts them in an impressive seventh place in this period.
Having conceded 24 goals across the first 13 matchdays, the average goals conceded has fallen from 1. 8 to 1. 2 per game under his guidance.
What’s more, the 60-year-old has overseen just three defeats in 17 Bundesliga games – only FC Bayern can better that in the same time frame (one defeat). They’ve gone from being five behind points the relegation play-off place to being eight points above it. A victory over Bayern on Saturday (15:30 CEST) could even secure Mainz’s top-flight status, should St.