Bo Henriksen’s Mainz side is set to travel to Romania on Thursday to face Universitatea Craiova, aiming to extend their winning streak in European competitions to four matches.
Universitatea Craiova enters matchday four in strong form, having lost just once in their last eight games across all competitions. They currently sit third in the Romanian Superliga after a recent victory and are positioned 20th in the Conference League table with four points.
Despite their solid performance, the club made a notable change during the international break, parting ways with manager Mirel Rădoi. Filipe Coelho has taken over and will lead the team for the second time on Thursday.
Craiova recently achieved their first win of the European campaign, securing a 1-0 victory against Rapid Wien, thanks to a first-half goal from Oleksandr Romanchuk. They now have the opportunity to claim back-to-back European wins for the first time since 1990.
The team boasts an impressive home record in this competition, remaining unbeaten in all nine European home matches. They have also scored in each of their last 16 home games across all competitions, making the Ion Oblemenco Stadium a challenging venue for visiting teams.
In terms of team news, Carlos Mora, Vladimir Screciu, Luis Paradela, and Mihnea Rădulescu are expected to miss the match.
Mainz 05 has faced challenges in the Bundesliga but has found success in Europe, remaining one of only three teams yet to drop points in this season’s Conference League, having won all three of their matches to date. They currently sit third in the overall table, level on points with the top two teams.
Their last European match was marked by late drama as Mainz came from behind to defeat Fiorentina 2-1 at the Mewa Arena, with Jae-Sung Lee scoring a 95th-minute winner. However, they have struggled to replicate that success in the league, failing to win either of their two subsequent matches.
Henriksen has faced increasing scrutiny due to the team’s league performance, but sporting director Christian Heidel expressed strong support for him at a recent members' meeting, emphasizing the club's commitment to standing together in difficult times.
Mainz has historically performed better on the road this season, achieving their only Bundesliga win away from the Mewa Arena and also securing a victory in Cyprus. This may bolster their confidence heading into the match, despite having won only two of their last eight European away games.
In terms of team news, Anthony Caci and Maxim Leitsch are long-term absentees, while Philip Mwene has not traveled due to a flu-like infection.
Predicted lineups:
Universitatea Craiova (3-5-2): Isenko (GK) - Romanchuk, Rus, Badelj - Etim, Matei, Baluta, Mekvabishvili, Bancu - Al Hamlawi, Baiaram
Mainz 05 (3-4-2-1): Zentner (GK) - da Costa, Maloney, Potulski - Kawasaki, Amiri, Sano, Widmer - Lee, Nebel - Hollerbach
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