FSV Mainz 05 aim to confirm their positive away record in the Bundesliga on Saturday at Borussia Mönchengladbach. Following a 1-3 home defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt last week, the Rhineland side travel to North Rhine-Westphalia for the fourth matchday (13:30 UTC).
Bo Svensson's team can look back on a strong run of form on the road. This includes the 9-0 rout at regional league side Krieschow in the DFB-Pokal at the end of August, as well as the commanding 5-0 victory at Hamburger SV in the second round. These results contrast with the recent home loss, where Phillip Tietz's consolation goal was his third of the season. Tietz is currently the team's top scorer with three goals in three league appearances.
Gladbach in a tough spell
The opponent from Mönchengladbach is itself in a difficult phase. Borussia has suffered three consecutive defeats, including a 0-5 loss at SC Freiburg. This leaves the Lower Rhine club in 17th place, while Mainz 05 sits in eighth with four points from three games. The last meeting in April at Borussia-Park ended in a 1-1 draw.
The tactical setup is expected to again be the 3-1-4-2 formation with Robin Zentner in goal. The current starting lineup shows stability but must translate the finishing prowess from their away games. The full overview of results so far and the upcoming fixture list is available online. A success in Gladbach would stays in the secure mid-table of the standings and sharpen focus for the challenges ahead.
