Mainz 05 get their Bundesliga season underway when they host Union Berlin at the MEWA Arena on Saturday. Both teams will hope to avoid a relegation battle this time around, with Mainz finishing 13th and just two points above the drop zone, while Union finished 17th and only stayed up on goal difference. © Reuters A clear problem last season for Mainz was their goal return having scored just 39 times in 34 games; the fourth-lowest tally in the Bundesliga.
In terms of transfers, Mainz have sold a number of players in the summer and winger Brajan Gruda recently joined Brighton & Hove Albion too, so attacking reinforcements will be needed if they are to avoid another repeat of last season's low goal tally. Manager Bo Henriksen did however improve Mainz's fortunes after joining in February and his side go into Saturday's match on the back of a nine-game unbeaten league run, including a 3-0 home win over Borussia Dortmund on the final day of the season. In their last game, Mainz needed extra time to win 3-1 away at neighbours Wehen Wiesbaden in the DFB-Pokal first round, where goals from Dominik Kohr , Jonathan Burkardt and Nadiem Amiri saw them narrowly progress.
Now with a full pre-season under Henriksen, the question is whether we will see the continuation of their impressive form from the end of last season, and a home game against a side that finished beneath them last season gives Mainz a good chance of opening their league campaign with a positive result. © Imago Union sta.