A month ago, Marcus Ingvartsen moved from Union Berlin to Mainz 05. In the match against his former club, the 25-year-old now beckons his first starting appearance.
“The chances are quite good,” said Bo Svensson at the matchday press conference on Friday. “Marcus has made a good development. He scored a goal in Hoffenheim, showed positive approaches against Freiburg and in Leverkusen. He is finding his way in better and better,” said the FSV coach.
In the race for the two places in the 05 attack, Adam Szalai, a contender, is currently out due to meniscus surgery. Ingvartsen’s rivals are Karim Onisiwo and Jonathan Burkardt.
Mainz still without Hack and Niakhaté
Svensson will also have to do without defender Alexander Hack, who is in quarantine. The tests for COVID-19 are still positive after a week, “otherwise he is doing well according to the circumstances”, as FSV spokeswoman Silke Bannick explained. Moussa Niakhaté has been taking part in parts of team training this week following his structural muscle injury. “He is making good progress,” said Svensson. However, it is unlikely that the FSV captain will already be on the pitch against Union.
For the first time since the Corona outbreak, spectators will be allowed into Sunday’s match (3.30 p.m., LIVE! on kicker); they do not have to wear masks or keep their distance in the block. However, only vaccinated and genesis are allowed there. Three other blocks are open to the tested, where the seats will be chessboarded.
“The spectators are an additional motivation “
BO SVENSSON
Following the previous 13,500 spectators, 25,000 spectators are allowed under the new regulation. Due to the change, however, not all season ticket holders will be able to sit in their usual seats yet; this will only be possible from the following home game. Mainz 05 are expecting a good 15,500 spectators against Berlin. “We expect a football experience like before Corona,” said the club spokeswoman.
“The spectators are an additional motivation. We already felt in the games before, it’s huge difference to the games in the second half of the season. We have already experienced that this year against Leipzig and in Bochum. The fans played a big role there, one positive, one negative,” said Svensson. Against Leipzig, the Mainz home fans pushed FSV to a 1-0 win, in Bochum the VfL supporters were instrumental in the 2-0 win against the Rheinhessen side.