Fiorentina under the microscope: “We’re ready for anything”

FSV are set to host the current table-toppers in the league phase of the Conference League – on Thursday (18:45 CET), Mainz will welcome AC Fiorentina for their third European fixture this season.

The 05ers can certainly be proud of their record on the European stage so far in 2025/26, taking six points from two games and asserting themselves as one of only six teams in the competition to have won both of their fixtures so far. Separated from top spot only by goal difference, Mainz currently sit sixth in the table, a position which would guarantee qualification into the round of 16 should the 05ers remain there. On Thursday, the team will hope to take the next step in the direction of direct qualification by securing another three points.

While both teams are currently unbeaten in European competition, AC Fiorentina’s league position is even more precarious than Mainz’s. With only four points from their first ten games, the Violets sit rock bottom in the Serie A table and come off the back of a 1-0 loss at home to Lecce this past weekend.

Bo henriksen on...

…the squad to face Fiorentina: “I believe that practically everyone is ready. One or two players have little niggles, but that kind of thing is unavoidable given the workload we’ve had over the last few weeks. We’ll wait and see today who is at 100% and then put out a strong team tomorrow night.”

…the draw against Bremen: “After the game, and having had time to analyse it, I’m feeling very good. We produced an incredible performance and are naturally disappointed that we weren’t rewarded with three points. It’s crucial for us, though, that we take the positives away from the game. I’m convinced that we can draw the right lessons from the game. Now we’re looking confidently to the future.”

…tomorrow’s opposition: “We don’t know exactly what to expect. Fiorentina are an incredible side, who have played really well in Europe so far this season. They also have a new coach (Editor's note: U-19 coach Daniele Galloppa took over from Stefano Pioli at the beginning of the week). We can’t be sure which players and what kind of formation they’ll set up with. For us it’s just important that we play our own way.”

…possible rotation: “We’ll make a few changes to the XI that started against Werder. In our situation, the Bundesliga is the most important competition, and we have to keep the upcoming game against Eintracht Frankfurt in the back of our minds. We have a strong squad, and I don’t have any issue with using different players. We’ll have another meeting later today and come to a decision on that.” 

…an impressive start to life in the Conference League: “It’s important for us to have positive experiences – on the European stage, that’s gone well for us so far. That’s why we’ve got a good feeling looking forward to tomorrow’s game. That’s exactly the kind of mood which will be so important over the next few weeks and which we have to retain.”

…his expectations for the game: “I know that Fiorentina will want to win tomorrow as much as we do – they’ve also taken six points from their first two Conference League games and are currently top of the table in the competition. Our opponents will give it their all, but we’re ready for anything.”

Nadiem amiri on...

…the workload in recent weeks: “It’s been a very intense period – against Bremen we noticed that we were hitting our limit in the last 15 minutes. Despite that, it’s a very enjoyable experience to play European football midweek, especially as we worked so hard all of last year to secure a spot in this competition. Against Mostar, we rotated a lot, but I can already reveal that I’ll be playing tomorrow.”

…his time in Serie A: “My six months in Genoa really shaped me, and impressed me too. I learned so much from a lot of really experienced players there and it was an incredibly positive experience for me, playing abroad for the first time. The teams in the Italian league are defined by their intensity, their passion and their physical play. We’re expecting precisely that from Fiorentina tomorrow, but we’re definitely capable of holding our own.”

…the magic of the Conference League: “I always find games under the lights are something special. It’s nobody’s right to take part in European competition and especially here in Mainz, where it’s far from a regular achievement, everyone is always so excited by the prospect – in particular, when we’re playing at home against a club like the one which awaits.”