The Matchday 1 clash of the 2025/26 Conference League group stage between Omonia (Cyprus) and Mainz (Germany) will take place on October 2 at the GSP Stadium in Nicosia. Omonia vs. Mainz: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Omonia
The Cypriots started from the second qualifying round of the Conference League, successfully overcoming Torpedo Kutaisi (1-0, 4-0), Araz-Nakhchivan (4-0, 5-0), and Wolfsberg (1-2, 1-0, extra time 0-0, penalties 5-4). As a result, Omonia will participate in the main draw of the Conference League for the third time, having reached the playoffs last season but losing in the first round to Pafos (1-1, 1-2).
- The club has not lost in 13 of their last 14 home matches in the Conference League (10 wins, 3 draws).
- At least three goals have been scored in 5 of the team's last 7 matches in this European competition.
- The Cypriots have kept a clean sheet in 5 of their last 6 Conference League games.
Predicted lineup for Omonia (4-3-3)
Fabiano Freitas – Fotis Kitsos, Senu Koulibaly, Saad Aguzoul, Giannis Masouras – Mateo Maric, Muamer Tankovic, Carel Eiting – Willy Semedo, Rian Maee, Evandro.
Forward Stevan Jovetic will not play due to injury. Midfielder Mateo Maric is suspended.
Mainz
The Germans advanced to the group stage after overcoming only one qualifying round, defeating Rosenborg on aggregate (1-2, 4-1). As a result, Mainz will play in the main draw of a European competition for only the second time in the last ten years. In the 2016/17 season, the team participated in the Europa League group stage but failed to advance to the playoffs.
- The team has not lost in 6 of their last 8 matches in European competitions (3 wins, 3 draws).
- Both teams scored in 7 of the club's last 9 matches in European competitions.
- Mainz has scored exactly 1 or 2 goals in 10 of their last 12 matches in European club tournaments.
Predicted lineup for Mainz (3-4-3)
Robin Zentner – Danny da Costa, Andreas Hanche-Olsen, Maxim Leitsch – Silvan Widmer, Nadiem Amiri, Kaishu Sano, Philipp Mwene – Lee Jae-sung, Paul Nebel, Armindo Sieb.
Defender Anthony Caci will miss the match due to injury.
Referee
Milos Milanovic (Serbia)
Matches – 11 (International matches, 2024/25–2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 46;
Average yellow cards per match – 4.2;
Red cards shown – 0;
Average fouls per match – 24;
Penalties – 27%.
Omonia vs. Mainz: Match Prediction
In the current Conference League qualification, the Cypriots showed high scoring ability: Omonia scored in all six matches, with at least four goals in half of them. Moreover, at home, the team scored in 11 of their last 12 matches in this European competition, hitting the net at least twice in five of those games.
Mainz also performs effectively in attack on the European stage: in their last 12 matches in European competitions, the club only failed to score once. However, their defensive reliability is questionable: during the same period, the Germans managed to keep a clean sheet in only three encounters. Notably, Mainz conceded three goals in two matches of the current Conference League qualification.
I believe both teams will be effective in attack, so my prediction: Both teams to score – Yes
* The starting lineup for each team is based on their last match.
