Conference League: Mainz rapidly checks off their place within the spherical of 16 | EUROtoday

Those answerable for the FSV Mainz 05 did not spend lengthy making it to the spherical of 16 within the convention recreation. “It’s now just about the 90 minutes St. Pauli – from now on,” stated sports activities director Niko Bungert instantly after the Bundesliga backside group’s 2-0 (1-0) win in opposition to Turkish first division soccer group Samsunspor. The new coach Urs Fischer additionally spoke rapidly in regards to the upcoming basement duel on the press convention.

Mainz will host Hamburg on Sunday (3:30 p.m.), who’re 4 factors forward of Rheinhessen within the relegation place. A defeat on the finish of the 12 months would set the Zero Fives far again within the relegation battle. “We want to hide the table completely,” stated Bungert in view of the explosive scenario.

“It’s still going to be a very long road.”

But Fischer did not need to cease his gamers’ celebration immediately. “The boys should be really happy about this victory today, they had to endure a lot in the past,” stated the Swiss. Such successes as in opposition to Samsunspor would assist “to get out of there”. At the identical time he emphasised. “It’s still going to be a very long road.”

With the house win within the Conference League Mainz can keep away from the 2 playoff video games in February and return to the worldwide stage within the spherical of 16 on March twelfth. Possible opponents within the spherical of 16 are Crystal Palace with former Bundesliga coach Oliver Glasner. Against the group from Samsunspor, managed by Thomas Reis (previously VfL Bochum and Schalke 04), captain Silvan Widmer (forty fourth minute) and Nadiem Amiri scored the targets with a hand penalty (forty ninth).

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