Mainz will travel to Hoffenheim with 10,000 fans
Mainz will travel to Hoffenheim with 10,000 fans
Despite their three-game winless streak, Mainz still sit in the Champions League place. In front of their 10,000 fans, the 05ers will hope to return to winning ways when they travel to Hoffenheim on Saturday.
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"10,000 Mainz fans is crazy. It's incredible—goosebumps,' said Bo Henriksen ahead of the game. 'Hopefully, we can give them something back. They're there every time, whether at home or away."
It's now a German football culture to have a large following on a trip to Hoffenheim. Köln and Bremen fans had the same experience in recent years, while there were also 10,000 Nürnberg supporters in a Pokal tie in Sinsheim.
Most recently, Frankfurt had 12,000 fans present at the PreZero Arena for a Bundesliga fixture. Hoffenheim's quiet atmosphere makes it easier for traveling fans to attend games as if their team plays at home.
Mainz will be without Nadiem Amiri as the German international picked up his fifth yellow card of the season against Holstein Kiel. "We have a good replacement for Nadiem since we already played without him against Frankfurt and Augsburg. We want to build on that tomorrow," said Henriksen.
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Jonathan Burkardt returned to team training after moderate sessions during the week. Meanwhile, Dominik Kohr will be back after a two-game suspension. Henriksen called his midfield engine a 'real machine' before tomorrow's game.
"The most important thing for us is power and energy. We have to bring that onto the pitch. If we believe in that, we can win anything," continued the candidate for Bundesliga's manager of the season. "I am proud of my team this season.'
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