A First-Ever League Meeting at the Kaiserlinde

A Bundesliga first on Friday evening: Mainz 05 and newly promoted SV Elversberg, who have made an impressive start to life in the top flight, will meet in the Bundesliga for the first time on Friday (8:30 PM CET, live on Sky and 05ER.fm). The two sides have previously crossed paths twice in the DFB-Pokal, with Mainz progressing from the first round on both occasions. In 2021, Elversberg were still playing in the fourth-tier Regionalliga, while by their second meeting in 2023, the Saarland club had already earned promotion to the second division. Interestingly, the original Kaiserlinde tree, planted in 2013 and after which the stadium is named, was destroyed in a storm in 2015. Since 2021, its replacement, known as the "new Kaiserlinde", has stood in the same spot.

Both teams were knocked out of the DFB-Pokal in the second round by second-division opposition on Tuesday. Elversberg suffered defeat against SV Darmstadt 98, while Mainz lost to VfL Bochum.

Facts and Figures Ahead of #ELVM05

Strong Away Form in the Bundesliga

Mainz have won all three of their away games this season and remain the only Bundesliga side yet to drop a point on the road. This is only the third time the 05ER have won their opening three away matches of a Bundesliga campaign, having previously achieved the feat in 2022/23 and 2010/11. The only time Mainz went on to win their first four away games was 16 years ago under Thomas Tuchel. The 05ER have already set a new club record, however, with their victory at Schalke on Matchday 6 marking their fifth consecutive Bundesliga away win across two seasons – a feat Mainz had never previously achieved.

An Impressive Unbeaten Run

The last time Mainz failed to win away from home in the Bundesliga was more than six months ago, when they drew 1-1 in Mönchengladbach in mid-April. Their most recent away defeat came over eight months ago, a 4-0 loss in Dortmund on 13 February. Since then, the 05ER have gone nine consecutive Bundesliga away matches unbeaten, collecting an impressive 23 points from a possible 27.

Level on Points

Three wins, one draw and three defeats: Both teams have collected ten points from their opening seven Bundesliga matches this season. However, Mainz sit just ahead of Elversberg in seventh place thanks to a goal difference that is six goals better than that of the newly promoted side.

Clinical Finishing on Both Sides

Mainz have been far more clinical in front of goal away from home this season, boasting a finishing efficiency of +3.4, comfortably the best in the Bundesliga. The 05ER have also conceded just three of their ten goals on the road and have been stronger in duels away from home than at the MEWA ARENA.

At home, Elversberg have needed an average of just four shots to score, finding the net with eight of their 32 attempts. No other Bundesliga side has a better shot conversion rate on home soil. Another remarkable statistic is that Elversberg have attempted just one header at home this season, with Maximilian Rohr finding the net with that effort against Augsburg.

First Setback

Elversberg began their debut Bundesliga campaign riding a wave of excitement following promotion, but suffered their first major setback last weekend. After a respectable first-half performance in Leipzig, the Saarland side eventually fell to a 4-0 defeat, their heaviest competitive loss under head coach Vincent Wagner. Their DFB-Pokal campaign also came to an end in the second round following a 2-0 defeat to second-division side Darmstadt.

Bundesliga's Best in Duels

Lukas Petkov currently leads the Bundesliga in duels won, with the Elversberg player coming out on top in 91 challenges. Mainz striker Phillip Tietz ranks sixth in the same category, having won 87 duels.

Match Officials

Sascha Stegemann will referee the match, assisted by Christof Günsch and Fabian Maibaum on the touchlines. Felix Wagner will serve as the fourth official, while Benjamin Cortus and Frederick Assmuth will be on VAR duty.