Rosenborg — Mainz 05 : Match Preview and Prediction for August 21,2025

Recent Form of Rosenborg

Rosenborg, despite a period of inconsistent performances, has demonstrated notable improvement, suffering just one defeat across their last eight matches in all competitions.

Domestic League Standing

The Norwegian side’s hopes of securing the league title appear dashed, as they currently trail leaders Bodø/Glimt and Viking by a significant 12-point margin. Consequently, their primary objective for the remainder of the domestic season will be to secure a coveted spot in European competitions.

European Qualification Journey

In the initial qualification round, Rosenborg comfortably dispatched the modest Banga, securing dominant victories of 5-0 and 2-0. However, the second round presented a considerably tougher challenge against Hammarby. Despite a goalless draw at home, Alfred Johansson’s squad somewhat surprisingly clinched a crucial 1-0 away win in Sweden.

Eliteserien Performance

Within the Eliteserien, Rosenborg has managed to accumulate seven points from their last five fixtures. This run includes an emphatic 4-1 thrashing of Tromsø, but was followed by an equally heavy 1-4 defeat at the hands of KFUM Oslo. These fluctuating results explain their current fifth-place position in the league standings.

Transfer Market Activity

During the current summer transfer window, the Norwegian club’s management made a significant move by selling Marius Sivertsen to Lille for €6 million. They subsequently reinvested approximately half of these funds to acquire Simen Bolkan Nordli from Randers and Emil Konradsen, who previously played for Sassuolo.

Mainz’s Return to Europe

Mainz 05 is making a return to European competition after a six-year absence. While a more prestigious tournament would have been ideal, their participation is nonetheless a positive development.

Pre-season Performance

The German club had a rather successful pre-season campaign, securing three victories and two draws. Their two most recent opponents were specifically chosen to simulate Europa Conference League competition: Bayern Alzenau (4-0), Saarbrücken (4-1), Seekirchen (5-0), Crystal Palace (1-1), and Strasbourg (0-0).

First Official Match

The visitors have already played their first official match of the season, facing Dynamo Dresden in the DFB-Pokal’s Round of 32, securing a 1-0 victory. Bo Henriksen rotated some key players, a decision that almost backfired. While they ultimately prevailed, Dresden played significantly better and even missed a penalty in the 65th minute.

Key Transfers

During this transfer window, Mainz 05 effectively swapped players, offloading their key star, Jonathan Burkardt, and bringing in Benedikt Hollerbach from Union Berlin.