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The final league match against Mainz is already taking second place to the Europa League final, but the opposition’s style of play could prove to be a handy test.

No one in Frankfurt is trying to hide the fact that the final matchday in the Bundesliga has little sporting significance for Eintracht. While the players were given Tuesday and Wednesday off, the coaching staff intend to “analyse Rangers during this time” and then “begin the preparation for Seville from Thursday”, as Oliver Glasner announced on Sunday, while declaring the league match against Mainz a dress rehearsal. If it’s a success, it could also represent a positive end to a league campaign that no one is satisfied with. The Eagles could move up to tenth with three points in Mainz. Mainz with momentum Either way, the Zerofivers are no longer catchable. Bo Svensson’s side occupy ninth place on 45 points, and could overtake eighth-placed Hoffenheim with a home win. They certainly appear to have recovered from their heavy 5-0 defeat at VfL Wolfsburg on Matchday 31, responding with an impressive 3-1 win against champions FC Bayern Munich a week later before following that up with a 2-1 victory at Hertha BSC. “We’ll train properly again this week and then hope for a decent finish with victory over Frankfurt,” goalkeeper Finn Dahmen told the club’s media. Toughness required The stats show that Mainz are a self-assertive team. After Bayern (651), Borussia Mönchengladbach (475) and 1. FC Köln (449), the hosts have registered the fourth most shots on goal in the Bundesliga this season, while they’ve also committed the most fouls. So it could – as is so often the case in the Bundesliga – be another physical battle for Eintracht to end the season. Given the upcoming final against Rangers, that might not be a bad thing.

Match info Kick-off: Saturday 14 May, 15:30 CEST, Bundesliga, Matchday 34 Stadium: MEWA ARENA, Mainz