Weiche Landung nach dem Mainzer Fall im Europacup? Mainz 05 hat nach einer überraschenden Ausbeute in der Conference League eine Reaktion von seiner Mannschaft erwartet, doch die Europareise brachte den Bundesliga-Club trotz des frühen Ausfalls finanzielle und reputative Vorteile. Trainer Urs Fischer betonte, dass die Stimmung in der Mannschaft gedämpft sei, da das Spiel "seine Spuren hinterlassen" habe. Der Coach verwies auf eigene Verantwortlichkeiten für die Schwächen im Rückspiel gegen Racing Straßburg, das mit einer 0:4-Niederlage endete. Dennoch sieht Fischer in der Europareise eine Chance, das Saisonende "weich" zu gestalten, da die Rheinhessen in der Bundesliga noch 33 Punkte benötigen, um den Klassenverbleib perfekt zu machen. Die Europareise war für Mainz 05 ein Abenteuer, das sich nach der überraschenden Niederlage am Donnerstagabend beendete. Obwohl das Team im Hinspiel mit einem 2:0 die ersten Punkte erzielte, war es im Rückspiel chancenlos. Sportvorstand Christian Heidel betonte, dass sich die Mannschaft trotzdem über einen positiven Effekt für das Portemonnaie und das Image freuen kann. Es ist die erste Bundesliga-Mannschaft, die bis ins Viertelfinale der Conference League vorgestoßen ist, und die Reise brachte nicht nur sportliche Erfahrungen, sondern auch finanzielle Gewinne. Die Einnahmen aus den zehn Conference-League- und zwei Qualifikationspartien summieren sich auf 16 Millionen Euro, wovon der FSV einen Gewinn von zehn Millionen Euro erwartet. Die Einnahmen setzen sich zur Hälfte aus Marketing-Erlösen und Ticketverkäufen sowie zur anderen Hälfte aus UEFA-Prämien zusammen. Die Reise war auch für die Fans ein Highlight: Mit einem Zuschauerschnitt von 31.000 war Mainz der klare Zuschauer-Krösus, deutlich vor Straßburg (26.111).#mainz_05 #urs_fischer #conference_league #silvan_widmer #christian_heidel
Crystal Palace Set for European Quarter-Final Clash Against Fiorentina Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has emphasized the significance of their upcoming Conference League quarter-final against Fiorentina, urging his players to embrace the rare opportunity of competing in a European knockout stage. The Eagles, who advanced to the last eight by defeating AEK Larnaca 2-1 on aggregate, will host the Italian side at Selhurst Park in the first leg of the tie. This marks the first-ever meeting between the two clubs in European competition and the first time Palace has faced an Italian team on the continental stage. Glasner highlighted the importance of the match, stating, "It's not every year in your career that you're playing a European quarter-final." The German coach praised his squad's recent form, noting their unbeaten run in the Conference League over six games, including two clean sheets in consecutive home matches. Palace’s last two European fixtures saw them secure a 2-0 victory against Zrinjski and a 0-0 draw with Larnaca, showcasing their defensive resilience and ability to capitalize on opportunities. Fiorentina, meanwhile, are aiming to reach the semi-finals for the fourth consecutive season, a feat unmatched by any other club in the competition. The Italian side will be looking to build on their strong performances in recent seasons, though they face a formidable challenge in Palace. Glasner believes the club’s atmosphere has improved due to their European exploits, with players expressing enthusiasm for the competition. "We enjoyed ourselves, we enjoyed the football, and we enjoyed the intensity [from the last game]," he said. "We have everything we will need to get a good result in the first leg.#conference_league #crystal_palace #fiorentina #oliver_glasner #selhurst_park
Rayo Vallecano vs AEK Athens - Conference League Quarter-Final Preview Rayo Vallecano will host AEK Athens in the first leg of their Conference League quarter-final tie on Thursday, marking the Spanish side’s first European encounter against Greek opposition since their 2000-01 Europa League campaign. The winner of the tie will face either Mainz 05 or Strasbourg in the semi-finals, with both teams aiming to advance to the final stages of the competition for the first time in their histories. Rayo Vallecano, making their debut in the Conference League, have reached the quarter-finals after a historic run through the tournament. The club, which last competed in European competitions in the 2000-01 Europa League, fell to a 4-2 defeat against Alaves in that campaign. This year, they have progressed past the last-16 stage with a 3-2 aggregate victory over Samsunspor, overcoming a 1-0 home defeat in the second leg. Rayo’s journey to the quarter-finals includes a 3-1 away win in the first leg of their last-16 tie, securing their place in the knockout phase. The Spanish side enters the match on the back of a 1-0 La Liga victory over Elche, which lifted them to 13th place in the league table and six points clear of the relegation zone. Manager Inigo Perez’s team will look to extend their recent form with back-to-back home wins, a feat they have not achieved since October and November 2025, when they claimed three consecutive victories at Vallecas. That stretch included two Conference League wins over Shkendija and Lech Poznan. AEK Athens, meanwhile, have reached the quarter-finals after a strong performance in the league phase, securing a top-eight finish. The Greek giants advanced from the last-16 stage with a 4-2 aggregate win over Slovenian side Celje, despite conceding two first-half goals in the home leg.#mainz_05 #conference_league #rayo_vallecano #strasbourg #aek_athens
Rayo Vallecano vs Levante Match Preview and Lineups Rayo Vallecano will aim for consecutive wins across all competitions as they host Levante in La Liga on Monday night. The capital club, currently 15th in the league table, sits six points above the relegation zone, while Levante, placed 19th, trails 17th-placed Elche by four points in the battle to avoid the drop. Rayo enters the match on a positive note after securing a 3-1 victory over Samsunspor in the first leg of their Conference League last-16 tie. This success positions them favorably for progression to the quarter-finals. Under manager Inigo Perez, Rayo has accumulated 31 points from 27 league matches, with a record of seven wins, 10 draws, and 10 losses. The team has remained unbeaten in their last five league games, though they drew 1-1 with Sevilla in their most recent fixture. Los Franjirrojos have only lost twice at home this season, drawing seven of their 13 home matches. Rayo will seek to complete a La Liga double over Levante, having defeated them 3-0 in the reverse fixture earlier this season. Levante holds a slight edge in the overall head-to-head record against Rayo, with 15 wins to the capital side’s 13, along with 11 draws. The Frogs secured a 4-2 victory over Rayo in the 2021-22 encounter and have won two of their last four meetings. For Levante, a win on Monday would significantly bolster their survival hopes, as they currently trail Elche by four points. Levante’s defensive struggles have been evident this season, with the team conceding 45 goals in 27 matches. However, they have picked up four points from their last two games, defeating Alaves and drawing with Girona. Three of their five league wins this season have come on the road, and they will be the fresher team heading into the match.#la_liga #conference_league #rayo_vallecano #inigo_perez #levante
Fiorentina: Kean named in the squad for the Cremonese game – will he start or be on the bench? Vanoli’s decision Moise Kean has been confirmed as part of Fiorentina’s squad for the upcoming match against Cremonese, marking a positive development for the club’s fans. The Italian forward, who had been sidelined due to a shin injury, has fully recovered and is now available for selection. This comes after he missed the previous fixture against Udinese on 2 March. The inclusion of Kean in the squad list signals his return to the team’s plans for the crucial relegation battle against Cremonese. Despite his recovery, the final decision on whether Kean will start the match or be named as a substitute remains uncertain. Fiorentina manager Paolo Vanoli has not yet made a definitive choice, with the manager set to finalize his lineup by the following morning. While Kean’s presence in the squad is a clear indication of his readiness, the likelihood of him starting the game appears low. His availability from the bench could provide a strategic advantage, allowing Vanoli to assess his fitness and performance during the match. If Kean is unable to start, the team’s options for the center-forward position are limited. Roberto Piccoli, who previously filled the role in the Conference League tie against Rakov, is expected to take over as the starting striker. This scenario mirrors past decisions, highlighting the reliance on Piccoli when Kean is unavailable. The match against Cremonese is a pivotal moment for Fiorentina, and the inclusion of Kean adds an element of unpredictability to their tactical approach. The decision to name Kean in the squad reflects the club’s commitment to utilizing his skills in high-stakes encounters.#conference_league #fiorentina #paolo_vanoli #moise_kean #cremonese
Phillipp Mwene träumt von einer WM-Begegnung mit Lionel Messi und schwärmt von seiner Zeit bei Mainz 05 Phillipp Mwene, der aktuelle Profi bei Mainz 05, sieht in seiner Karriere eine wichtige Station und träumt von einer WM-Begegnung mit dem argentinischen Star. Der 25-Jährige, der einst für den VfB Stuttgart spielte, spricht über seine Erfahrungen im Verein, die Herausforderungen im Kampf um den Klassenerhalt und seine Ziele in der Bundesliga. Mwene betont, wie wichtig die eigenen Spiele für Mainz 05 sind. „Wir müssen unseren guten Lauf nutzen, um noch mehr Punkte zu holen“, sagt er. Die Mannschaft stehe vor der Herausforderung, den Klassenerhalt zu sichern, nachdem sie in der Hinrunde knapp an wichtigen Punkten vorbeigeschlittert sei. Gegen den HSV und Leverkusen habe Mainz 05 zwar gute Chancen erarbeitet, doch die unglücklichen Ausgleiche hätten den Abstiegskampf erschwert. Der Spieler, der in der Jugend beim VfB Stuttgart trainierte, erinnert sich an die Tafelspitz-Anekdote aus seiner Zeit in Stuttgart. „Das war gleich an meinem ersten Tag. Es gab Tafelspitz zum Mittagessen. Den mochte ich noch nie, er war total zäh, eine absolute Katastrophe“, lacht Mwene. Doch die Erfahrungen im Internat hätten ihn als Fußballer geprägt. Mwene betont, dass Mainz 05 eine Mannschaft sei, die auf Erfahrung bau. „Einige Spieler – wie ich – machen den Abstiegskampf jetzt schon das dritte Mal mit. Wir wollen die Ruhe ausstrahlen, um alle mitzuziehen und daran zu glauben, den Klassenerhalt immer schaffen zu können“, erklärt er. Die Wintertransfers hätten die Mannschaft gestärkt, und Mwene ist zuversichtlich, dass Mainz 05 den Klassenerhalt schaffen wird. Der Spieler, der in der Bundesliga und der Conference League eingesetzt wird, sieht in der Europapokalsaison eine Chance, die Mannschaft zu zeigen.#vfB_stuttgart #mainz_05 #philipp_mwene #lionel_messi #conference_league
