SK Sigma Olomouc vs. 1. FSV Mainz Europa Conference League preview: Team news and predicted lineups
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Mainz face Sigma Olomouc away from home in the first leg of the Round of 16 Europa Conference League tie. After a sixth-placed finish last term, Mainz are fighting for survival in the Bundesliga this season.
However, Urs Fischer’s arrival revived their hopes as they had only lost twice in the first 12 league matches under the Swiss coach. Fischer also has European experience as his Union Berlin side featured in all three European competitions.
Mainz were automatically through to the Round of 16 after finishing the league phase in seventh place. In their first European campaign since the 2016/17 Europa League, they have won all three games at home so far in the competition.
Away from home, they have picked up only one point from their last two games against CS U Craiova and Lech Poznan. There could still be some changes to the starting lineup on Thursday, with a six-pointer against Werder Bremen awaiting the 05ers this weekend.
Fifth-placed Sigma are 22 points behind Chance Liga leaders Slavia Prague, although there would be a championship playoff group at the end of the regular season. Saturday’s 2-1 win away at FK Jablonec secured three successive league victories for Tomas Janotka’s side for the first time this campaign. Meanwhile, Mainz’s last three Bundesliga games all ended in draws.
This is the first time they have entered a knockout stage of European competition in the 21st century. Their best record in Europe was reaching the quarter-final of the 1991-92 Europa League (formerly UEFA Cup), where they lost to Real Madrid after Hugo Sánchez’s late winner at the iconic Santiago Bernabéu.
Team News
Nadiem Amiri will not return to action before the international break at the end of this month. Center-backs Andreas Hanche-Olsen and Stefen Bell are out with injuries, while January signing Sheraldo Becker isn’t registered in the Europa Conference League squad.
Guinean international Abdoulaye Sylla is suspended after picking up his third yellow card of the competition in Sigma’s win over Lausanne-Sport.
Predicted Lineups
Sigma: Koutný; Hadas, Lurvink, Elbel, Sláma ©; Beran, Baráth; Sturm, Sejk, Ghali; Yasser
Mainz: Batz; da Costa, Potulski, Kohr; Widmer ©, Sano, Lee, Nebel, Mwene; Tietz, Weiper
