Sheraldo Becker's speed and current form are key factors for Mainz 05 ahead of their home match against Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday. The 31-year-old striker has contributed two goals and three assists in four matchdays, playing a major role in his side's sixth-place standing in the Bundesliga.
The foundations for this output were laid in the summer, even though Becker could not complete a full pre-season after joining the club last winter. During the summer break and training camp, he worked intensively with his strike partner Phillip Tietz on their understanding. That work is now paying off. Becker better understands his teammates' movements and is fully integrated into the team's routines.
Speed as a weapon
Sheraldo Becker is the fastest player in the entire Bundesliga, with a recorded top speed of 36.58 km/h. He sees this attribute as central to winning back possession and quick transition play. "It was important for me to get back into my rhythm. That’s what we’ve been working on," said Becker. His motto is to run more, win more duels, and score more goals. With his current tally of five goal contributions, he has nearly matched his total from last season (three goals, three assists). His partner Phillip Tietz leads the internal scoring chart with four goals.
First home win in sight
The clash with Bayer Leverkusen presents Mainz 05's first opportunity to secure a home win this season. Their last home game on September 12 ended in a 1-3 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt. Since then, they have recorded two consecutive away wins, most recently a 3-0 victory at Waldhof Mannheim. Bo Henriksen's side goes into the match with seven points from four games and a positive goal difference of 10:6.
Becker admitted the international break came at an inconvenient time for him and the in-form team. The training week was used intensively, however. "We’ve shown many times that we can do well against the top teams," the striker said. Against a possession-dominant and technically strong opponent like Leverkusen, Mainz are likely to see less of the ball. Becker's pace on the flanks and efficiency on the counter will therefore be even more key. "Playing at home in front of our fans is always special. As a team, we need that energy from the stands," he emphasized.
The Nullfünfer enter the top fixture on a run of three wins from their last five competitive matches. The full schedule of upcoming tasks, including the home game on Saturday (October 10), can be found on the fixtures page. Sheraldo Becker, who went four months without playing in Spain before moving to Mainz, has secured his place in the Carnival Club's starting lineup.
The report in full is at mainz05.de
