League leaders Bayern Munich will aim to solidify their position at the summit of the Bundesliga table when they travel to Mewa Arena on Saturday where they take on Mainz 05 in their 14th league game of 2024-25.
Mainz have 19 points and are ninth in the table after losing 4-3 against Wolfsburg on December 8, while the Bavarians beat Heidenheim 4-2 on December 7 and their tally of 33 points is six more than second-placed Eintracht Frankfurt.
Match preview
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Mainz had won the three games prior to their defeat against Wolfsburg, a match in which they lost despite taking 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 leads against the Wolves.
Manager Bo Henriksen said that he was largely pleased with his side's performance against Wolfsburg, saying: "It was a crazy game. We're obviously disappointed because we produced a really good performance today –- against a really good team. We played good football in the half-spaces, but obviously we also need to defend a bit better in the last 10 minutes."
Henriksen's team's defensive frailty last Sunday was perhaps unexpected given they had kept three clean sheets in their previous four games, conceding just once.
At the other end of the pitch, Karnevalsverein's record of 23 goals scored in the Bundesliga is the division's seventh-best offensive return, with the club scoring 11 times in their last four top-flight matches.
Mainz' record at home in the league is mixed, as while they have won two and drawn one of their three most recent fixtures at Mewa Arena, they did lose the previous three.
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As for Vincent Kompany's side, they come into Saturday's clash having beaten Shakhtar Donetsk 5-1 on Tuesday in the Champions League, and the game was the ninth time that they have scored four or more goals in a single match this season.
If there was one negative to take from their victory on Tuesday, it was that they failed to keep a clean sheet for a fourth consecutive fixture.
Kompany noted in the aftermath of his team's win against Shakhtar that his players still have room to improve, telling reporters: "Sometimes you can be vulnerable [to counters] when you're so dominant. We'll continue to work in detail about these moments. But we could've won 5-0 and I'd still say that we have to improve."
Bayern also boast the league's best offensive and defensive records having netted 41 times and conceded on 10 occasions, with their goal difference of 31 significantly better than Eintracht Frankfurt's +15.
The Bavarians are in excellent form considering they have triumphed in nine of their past 11 matches, with their only defeat being a 1-0 defeat against Bayer Leverkusen in the DFB-Pokal on December 3.
The visitors' away record is also strong given they have achieved victory in four of their last five outings, scoring 16 goals while conceding just twice.
Team News
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Mainz midfielder Danny da Costa is not scheduled to return from a groin injury until January 2025, so expect regulars Kaishu Sano and Nadiem Amiri to form a partnership in the middle of the park.
Winger Gabriel Vidovic's ankle injury could see him miss out on action until late February 2025, and his absence could mean that Henriksen selects Paul Nebel, Jae-sung Lee and Jonathan Burkardt in the forward line.
In defence, Dominik Kohr, Stefan Bell and Maxim Leitsch are likely to appear in a back three in front of goalkeeper Robin Zentner.
The away side are likely to start a back four featuring Konrad Laimer, Dayot Upamecano, Kim Min-jae and Raphael Guerreiro considering Alphonso Davies, Hiroki Ito and Josip Stanisic have been ruled out.
Daniel Peretz is likely to appear in goal in light of Manuel Neuer's rib injury, as well as the fact Sven Ulreich could be absent due to personal reasons.
Kingsley Coman and Harry Kane are both dealing with hamstring issues, and this could mean that Kompany starts Michael Olise, Jamal Musiala and Leroy Sane behind Thomas Muller in attack.
Joshua Kimmich is almost certain to be partnered by Aleksandar Pavlovic in midfield given Joao Palhinha's groin injury could keep the Portuguese out until the middle of January.
Mainz 05 possible starting lineup:
Zentner; Kohr, Bell, Leitsch; Caci, Sano, Amiri, Mwene; Nebel, Lee; Burkardt
Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:
Peretz; Laimer, Upamecano, Kim, Guerreiro; Kimmich, Pavlovic; Olise, Musiala, Sane; Muller
We say: Mainz 05 1-3 Bayern Munich
Bayern have been rampant in front of goal all season, and it is plausible that they could score multiple times on Saturday.
However, given the injuries in defence and to Neuer, Mainz will likely have opportunities of their own, and they may at least prevent the visitors from keeping a clean sheet.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
