Freiburg vs Mainz Preview: Team News & Prediction
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This feels like a must-win game for Freiburg at home to a relegation-threatened Mainz.
Kick-off date/time:
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Freiburg preview: Midtable slump
Freiburg would’ve hoped to have been one of the big fish fighting for a place in Europe next season at the beginning of the campaign, but they’ve yet to really kick on in 2025-26 under Julian Schuster, who cannot seem to break the inconsistency of this Freiburg team. As it stands, they have more draws (four) and losses (four) than they do wins (three), hardly ideal.
Stuck in midtable, the onus is on Schuster and his players to put together a winning run. At home against a team out of form and stuck inside the bottom three, this game would be a good time to start one.
Mainz preview: Down but not out
Whilst Mainz may be planted inside the automatic relegation places as it stands, they’re fighting hard to break out as soon as possible and a hard-fought 1-1 draw against free-scoring Hoffenheim in their most recent Bundesliga fixture is testament to that. But it’s wins that they need most of all and they haven’t had one in the league since September 20th.
Mainz were in action this past Thursday in the Europa Conference League, losing 1-0 away from home and the punishing schedule for European clubs means that they are back on the road only three days later.
Freiburg team news: A number of doubts
Schuster will check on the fitness of three players ahead of this encounter. Muscle injuries are proving a night for Freiburg and could lead to Dinkci, Makengo and Rosenfelder all being ruled out alongside Daniel-Kofi Kyereh, who is a long-term absence.
Predicted XI: (4-2-3-1): Atubolu; Treu, Ginter, Lienhart, Gunter; Eggestein, Manzambi; Beste, Suzuki, Grifo; Adamu
Unavailable: Kyereh (Injured),
Questionable: Dinkci (Injured), Makengo (Injured), Rosenfelder (Injured)
Mainz team news: Suspensions hamper visitors
Mainz are without both Amiri and Kohr due to the pair each being banned. Caci and Dal remain missing through injury, whilst illness could rule out Austrian international left-wing-back Phillipp Mwene.
Predicted XI: (3-4-3): Riess; Da Costa, Bell, Hanche-Olsen; Widmer, Maloney, Sano, Veratschnig; Nebel, Hollerbach, Lee
Unavailable: Amiri (Suspended), Caci (Injured), Dal (Injured), Kohr (Suspended)
Questionable: Mwene (Illness), Zentner (Injured)
Freiburg vs Mainz prediction
Mainz are coming off the back of a tough travel schedule and are also likely to be missing a number of players, hardly ideal going into what is another difficult away fixture. Although Freiburg were also on the road midweek, being back at home should work in their favour here in what is a game they can ill-afford to drop points in.
When comparing the two squads, there’s no doubt that Freiburg’s is stronger and they’ve certainly underachieved so far this campaign. At home vs struggling opposition, expectation is high and three points is a must. Back Schuster’s men to achieve this.
Freiburg vs Mainz tip: Freiburg to win
