Mainz vs St Pauli Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Mainz are struggling to deal with domestic and European commitments this season as the strugglers head into the winter break on the back of a clash with St Pauli.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / US – ESPN
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / US – ESPN+
Mainz preview: Poor Mainz
Having finished sixth and qualified for the UEFA Europa Conference League last season, Mainz have struggled to balance their congested fixture list this season with Bo Henriksen having already been sacked and replaced by Urs Fischer.
The former Union Berlin boss most recently oversaw a comfortable 2-0 defeat of Samsunspor to finish off the league phase of the UECL, which has provided them with respite as they sit rock-bottom in the Bundesliga.
St Pauli preview: Struggling St Pauli
Having gained promotion to the top-flight for the first time in their history in the 2023/24 campaign, St Pauli did very well to ease to survival last season but so-called ‘second season syndrome’ has them sitting just outside the bottom two on goal difference.
The Hamburg-based outfit come into this one, though, on the back of a crucial win against fellow strugglers Heidenheim at the Millerntor last weekend, courtesy of a brace scored by forward Martijn Kaars.
Mainz team news: Widmer fit
Switzerland international Silvan Widmer has been a doubt for the last couple of weeks but the full-back returned to full fitness in their UECL clash against Samsunspor in midweek.
Predicted XI (4-2-2-2): Batz; Maloney, Bell, Potulski; Da Costa, Sano, Veratsching; Kawasaki, Lee; Hollerbach, Boving
Unavailable: Dal (Injured), Caci (Injured), Leitsch (Injured), Mwene (Injured)
Questionable: Zentner (Injured), Amiri (Injured)
St Pauli team news: Smith suspended
Versatile defender Eric Smith is now missing through suspension for St Pauli this weekend, while former Peterborough United striker Ricky-Jade Jones is now a fresh injury doubt.
Predicted XI (4-2-2-2): Vasilj; Wahl, Ritzka, Mets; Pyrka, Sands, Oppie; Fujita, Irvine; Kaars, Pereira Lage
Unavailable: Smith (Suspended), Hountondji (Injured)
Questionable: Nemeth (Injured), Jones (Injured)
Mainz vs St Pauli prediction
The performance level of Mainz has improved under the management of Urs Fischer, as was shown by the fact they were denied a stunning victory against defending champions and league leaders Bayern Munich late on due to a Harry Kane penalty at the Allianz Arena last weekend. St Pauli are struggling again in the Bundesliga and they will be expected to be involved in the relegation battle until the end of the campaign with Mainz coming into this one as the favourites, with their home advantage.
Mainz vs St Pauli tip: Mainz to win
