It is a good thing that VfL Wolfsburg comes to the arena at the Europakreisel on the very weekend when the Bundesliga clubs have to reduce their audience capacity.

When it comes to fan interest, the Lower Saxony are traditionally hot minus record contenders in Mainz, which is why the only 10,000 visitors allowed according to the latest requirements of the Rhineland-Palatinate state government for the FSV Mainz 05 are not a logistical problem.

The tickets already sold remained “valid within the framework of the 2-G concept. The further sale of day tickets was stopped ”, announced the press office of the association. Cancellations do not seem necessary. "The protection of health has priority", says club and board chairman Stefan Hofmann. “Football must also take a back seat to this premise and make its contribution to overcoming the pandemic. Bundesliga games in full stadiums are not possible under these conditions and would also be the wrong signal for the public. "

In terms of sport, the duels with VfL Wolfsburg have been rather modest for the Rheinhessen in recent years.

Since their recovery in 2009, they have only won two home games, but that was six years ago.

The away record is similarly dreary - but the 05ers managed an impressive 4: 3 at the end of the previous season.

Svensson likes to take on a task

And what can be expected for this Saturday afternoon (3:30 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the Bundesliga and on Sky)?

Objectively an opponent who, as seventh in the table, has only two points more than the ninth-placed Mainz team.

"A high-quality team that plays in the Champions League has not lost a top performer, but has rather strengthened itself with players like Lukas Nmecha and Luca Waldschmidt," says Bo Svensson.

Since Florian Kohfeldt took over the coaching position from Mark van Bommel, who was only signed up in the summer, the Wolfsburg-based company has not only had a lot of individual quality, "he has also brought in a collective idea in a short time," emphasizes the 05 coach. “You're more disciplined because all the players are working defensively. But we are happy to face the task. "

The Mainz team will do this with Stefan Bell in the defensive chain, who was missing a yellow card in the 2-1 defeat in Stuttgart on the previous match day. The central defender with his calm and experience of 205 Bundesliga appearances "gives the other players that certain something," says Svensson. The 30-year-old is not a loudspeaker on the pitch. "He's more like someone who works with a lot of input one-to-one and leads on a content level." And Bell helps ensure that the balance between experienced and young players is right.

Dominik Kohr is still absent due to his muscle tendon injury in his thigh, and Leandro Barreiro is expected to be sixth again in his place.

"Leo did well in Stuttgart," says Svensson.

The trainer does not hide the fact that Barreiro needs to "improve technically and in the perception of the different situations".

“He has to be clearer when he is playing with the ball.

If you play alone on the six, you need a high pass rate.

You don't have to give assists, but you have to distribute the balls neatly. "