Borussia Dortmund vs Mainz Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Borussia Dortmund are holding onto the coattails of Bayern Munich at the top-of-the-table as they now take on a much-improved Mainz side at the Westfalenstadion.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – ESPN
How to watch online: UK – BBC iPlayer & Bundesliga YouTube / US – ESPN+
Borussia Dortmund preview: Impressive Dortmund
Niko Kovac and his Borussia Dortmund side begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting just six points behind Bayern Munich at the top-of-the-table after the Bavarians endured a bit of a wobble since the return from the mid-season winter break.
The Yellow-Blacks come into this one on the back of back-to-back hard-fought and perhaps fortunate victories against Heidenheim, by three goals to two, before a 2-1 win against Wolfsburg last weekend.
Mainz preview: In-form Mainz
Bo Henriksen led Mainz to seventh and UEFA Europa Conference League qualification last season but a woeful attempt at balancing domestic and European commitments saw Urs Fischer brought in to replace Henriksen a couple of months ago.
Rock-bottom Mainz have since transformed themselves into a mid-table outfit once again with four victories in their last five matches in the Bundesliga, having defeated Augsburg by two goals to nil last weekend.
Borussia Dortmund team news: Schlotterbeck suspended
Germany international centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck is missing through suspension, while fellow defenders Filippo Mane and Emre Can are unavailable due to injury.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Kobel; Sule, Anton, Bensebaini; Ryerson, Bellingham, Nmecha, Svensson; Beier, Brandt; Guirassy
Unavailable: Schlotterbeck (Suspended), Mane (Injured), Can (Injured)
Questionable: Couto (Injured), Sabitzer (Injured), Adeyemi (Injured)
Mainz team news: Lots of injuries
Mainz are dealing with lots of injury issues for this weekend, with Lennard Maloney now a fresh absentee alongside the likes of Maxim Dal and Anthony Caci.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Batz; Posch, Bell, Kohr; Da Costa, Sano, Amiri, Widmer; Lee, Silas; Tietz
Unavailable: Zentner (Injured), Leitsch (Injured), Dal (Injured), Hanche-Olsen (Injured), Hollerbach (Injured), Maloney (Injured), Kawasaki (Injured), Caci (Injured)
Questionable:
Borussia Dortmund vs Mainz prediction
Last season, Mainz were arguably the great overachievers in the Bundesliga and they were one of the stories of the season as one of the strongest sides. They have underperformed at the start of this season but appear, with their shake up, to have got back on track. They face a strong Dortmund side that are prone to giving up opportunities to much worse sides than Mainz and, while a home win remains the likeliest outcome, it should be an intriguing contest for the neutral.
Borussia Dortmund vs Mainz tip: Borussia Dortmund to win & both teams to score
