Bundesliga | Gameweek 10

Nov 9, 2024 at 2.30pm UK

Mewa Arena

Mainzvs.Dortmund

Match preview

The O-Fives didn't have much impact in the final third against Freiburg, with just two shots on target throughout the entire match, both of which came between the 51st and 59th minutes.

Mainz are just two points behind Hoffenheim, who are in third-to-last place and in danger of being relegated. However, just five points separate Hoffenheim and eighth-placed Stuttgart.

I have to hand it to manager Bo Henriksen – his team have done a lot better than they did at the same point last season. Back then, they'd only got three points from nine games, losing six and drawing three.

Henriksen's side have scored 12 times and conceded 13 times in the league, which makes them the Bundesliga's joint fifth-worst offensive and seventh-best defensive team.

Mainz have drawn their last two top-flight games, losing two and winning one of the last three, and it's worth noting that they didn't score in three of those five matches.

The team's performance at Mewa Arena has been disappointing recently. They've lost three of their last five Bundesliga games and haven't won at home in the league in the last five.

Dortmund, on the other hand, are coming into Saturday's game with a boost of confidence after beating Sturm Graz 1-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday.

BVB were missing a few key players and had lost three of the last four games before their match against Sturm Graz. But Tuesday's win means the club is now in seventh place in the Champions League table and has an automatic qualification spot.

Sahin's team were the first to beat RB Leipzig in the league when they won 2-1 on 2 November in their last game.

Even though they conceded first in the 27th minute, the Black and Yellows were the dominant team throughout. They had 20 shots and created six big chances while limiting Die Roten Bullen to no big chances.

Dortmund lost the three games before their two most recent victories and have won three and lost three in their last six Bundesliga matches.

The team's performance on the road is concerning. They've lost their last five away games, conceding 15 goals and scoring just five times in that span.

Recent Performance

Mainz 05 Bundesliga form:WLWLDD

Mainz 05 form (all competitions):LWLDLD

Borussia Dortmund Bundesliga form:LWLWLW

Borussia Dortmund form (all competitions):WLLLWW

Team News

Mainz will be without centre-backs Andreas Hanche-Olsen and Moritz Jenz until late November, but otherwise have a strong squad.

The home team could play a back three with Dominik Kohr, Stefan Bell and Maxim Leitsch in front of goalkeeper Robin Zentner.

It looks like Kaishu Sano and Nadiem Amiri will be playing in a double pivot, while Jonathan Burkardt might have Paul Nebel and Jae-sung Lee supporting him up front.

The visitors are still without a number of key players, including defenders Julian Ryerson, Yan Couto and Niklas Sule, as well as goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.

Dortmund will also be without attackers Karim Adeyemi, Giovanni Reyna and Julien Duranville, but midfielder Marcel Sabitzer is back in contention.

It looks like Felix Nmecha will probably start alongside Sabitzer in midfield, while midfielders Pascal Gross and Emre Can could be forced to start in defence.

In other news, it looks like striker Serhou Guirassy will be flanked by Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Maximilian Beier.

Possible starting lineups

Mainz 05 possible starting lineup:

Zentner; Kohr, Bell, Leitsch; Caci, Sano, Amiri, Mwene; Nebel, Lee; Burkardt

Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:

Meyer; Gross, Can, Anton, Schlotterbeck; Nmecha, Sabitzer; Beier, Brandt, Gittens; Guirassy