Mainz team captain Julian Baumgartlinger. (Photo : Getty Images)
Contending teams FSV Mainz 05 (14-12-7, 49 points) and Hertha Berlin SC (14-12-7, 49 points) are still in contention for a UEFA Champions League berth with only one matchday remaining in the 2015-2016 Bundesliga season. The two squads are scheduled to face one another in a crucial match at the Coface Arena on Saturday, May 14th.
While both clubs are already assured of Europa League qualifying slots next season as they are tied on points with seventh-placed squad Schalke 04, they are still aiming to overtake top four squad Borussia Monchengladbach, who is only three points above, for the fourth and last Champions League spot for next season.
Mainz crushed bottom three team VfB Stuttgart, 3-1, at the Mercedes-Benz Arena last Saturday to bounce back from a four-game winless spell, as reported by ESPN.
Stuttgart started scoring at the sixth minute with a goal from team captain Christian Gentner before Mainz midfielder Yunus Malli equalized the game at the 37th to reach halftime with a 1-1 count.
Die Nullfünfer netted two goals after the restart, courtesy of strikers Jhon Cordoba and Karim Onisiwo at the 53rd and 77th, to come away with the three points and overtake Hertha in the standings.
Although Mainz and Hertha are tied on points, the O-Fives are one spot above the latter at fifth place as they have a higher goal difference of +4.
Meanwhile, Hertha dropped to sixth place from as high as the third spot of the league table after succumbing to a 1-2 loss to SV Darmstadt 98 at the Olympiastadion last Saturday, their sixth straight winless performance, as per SkySports.
Midfielder Vladimir Darida scored the opening goal at the 14th minute for Die Alte Dame to find hope in snapping their four-game winless slide.
However, the visitors netted the next two goals, at the 24th and 82nd minutes, by midfielder Jerome Gondorf and forward Sandro Wagner to snatch the three points away from Hertha.
The predicted result is a 2-0 victory for Mainz.
Mainz starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Karius; Donati, Bell, Bungert, Bussmann; Baumgartlinger, Frei; Clemens, Malli, Onisiwo; Cordoba
Hertha Berlin starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Jarstein; Weiser, Stark, Brooks, Mittelstadt; Skjelbred, Lustenberger; Haraguchi, Darida, Kalou; Ibisevic
