Mainz vs SC Paderborn 07 preview - Mainz target prolific start to 2015

Posted Friday, January 30, 2015 by PA

Mainz are aiming to pick up as many points as possible over the next week to ensure a serene second half to the season, starting with victory over Paderborn on Saturday.

Mainz are one of nine clubs - Paderborn included - grouped within just four points from the bottom of the table up to 10th.

Getting 2015 off on the wrong foot could move 12th-placed Mainz closer to the bottom three, whereas a good start to the new year could allow them to gather momentum and rise up the table.

"That's why so much is going to depend on how we perform over the coming week," said the Mainz's general manager Christian Heidel ahead of their first match since the six-week winter break.

"This week is all about trying to get ourselves as far as possible from the bottom of the table and laying the foundations to ensure we have as little as possible to do with the subject of relegation."

After hosting Paderborn, Mainz travel to Hannover and then welcome Hertha Berlin to the Coface Arena.

From those three fixtures at the start of the season, they picked up five points and a repeat of that haul would be seen as a success.

Otherwise, the pressure will only mount on coach Kasper Hjulmand, whose side were unable to win any of their three warm-up fixtures during the winter break.

"I don't waste even a second thinking about my own position," Hjulmand said. "It's all about the club and getting this win at home.

"We will do all we can to win on Saturday. We've got a good feeling and there is a good atmosphere in the team. We're ready to fight and we're ready for a good game."

Park Joo-ho is unavailable as he is involved in the final of the Asian Cup with South Korea, but Japan's early elimination means that Shinji Okazaki is available.

While relegation would be unexpected for Mainz this season, it is what many people predicted for Paderborn at the end of their first season in the top flight.

In view of that, and the fact they have a one-point advantage over Mainz going into Saturday's clash, their coach Andre Breitenreiter said they can go into the second half of the season "free from any pressure".

"We're just delighted to be back in action again," added the Paderborn coach, whose side will be supported by around 1,000 travelling fans in Mainz.