Mainz Union Kick-off Event: A New Beginning for Workers
1. FC Union Berlin is set to kick off their 2024/25 Bundesliga season with an away game against 1. FSV Mainz 05 on Saturday, 24 August. The match will take place at the MEWA Arena with a kick-off time scheduled for 15:30.
The Competing Teams
Mainz 05 recently secured a victory in their DFB Pokal first-round match against SV Wehen Wiesbaden. Despite initially falling behind, they managed to equalize in normal time and secure their spot in the next round with two crucial goals in extra time from Jonathan Burkardt and Nadiem Amiri. On the other hand, 1. FC Union Berlin defeated Regionalliga side Greifswalder FC in the Cup with a brilliant second-half strike from substitute Yorbe Vertessen.
In terms of coaching staff, Union’s current head coach, Bo Svensson, previously served in the same role at Mainz. During his tenure, Mainz finished eighth and ninth in the previous seasons before Svensson stepped down in November of the previous year. His successor, Jan Siewert, struggled to reverse the team’s fortunes and was eventually replaced by Bo Henriksen in February 2024. Under Henriksen’s leadership, Mainz showed improvement, finishing thirteenth in the table after collecting 23 points from the final 13 matches of the season.
Pre-Season Preparations
Mainz 05 enters the new season with five wins and one defeat from their pre-season matches. They faced off against amateur teams and secured victories in three friendlies, including a notable 2-0 win against recently promoted Bundesliga side SV Holstein Kiel. The team also defeated French first division team Montpellier HSC in a friendly match as part of their summer preparations.
Union head coach Bo Svensson will be missing key players Kevin Volland, Josip Juranović, and Yannic Stein, as well as goalkeeping coach Michael Gspurning due to a red card received in the previous Bundesliga matchday.
The Reunions
The upcoming season opener in Mainz holds special significance for Bo Svensson and his co-coaches Babak Keyhanfar and Tijan Njie. Svensson, a former Mainz player with 122 appearances, previously served as an assistant coach before taking over various FSV youth teams. Keyhanfar, who played for Mainz at the youth level, has been an integral part of Svensson’s coaching team since 2018. Njie, who joined Mainz as a match analyst in 2017, will also be returning to his old club for the match.
Coaches’ Perspectives
During a press conference, Union head coach Bo Svensson expressed anticipation for an intense match characterized by numerous duels. He acknowledged the familiarity between the two sides and highlighted Mainz’s strength at home as a challenging factor. On the other hand, Mainz head coach Bo Henriksen emphasized his satisfaction with the team’s preparations and expressed optimism for a good result in the upcoming match against Union Berlin.
Service Information
Union Berlin will receive support from approximately 2,600 fans traveling to Mainz for the match. The mobile Union Zeughaus will also be present at the event. For those unable to attend in person, the match will be broadcast live by Sky, with an audio stream available on rbb24 Inforadio and rbb24. Additionally, Union will provide live match updates through their own live ticker and on social media platforms in English and Spanish.
As the Bundesliga season kicks off with the Mainz Union match, fans and players alike are eager to witness a new beginning for the teams involved. With both sides looking to make a strong start to the season, the stage is set for an exciting and competitive encounter at the MEWA Arena.