Verdict: Sebastian Haller to score anytime
Best Odds: 1/1
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
Knowing that a victory on Saturday afternoon will be enough to clinch a first Bundesliga crown since 2012, Borussia Dortmund will welcome Mainz to Signal Iduna Park.
Borussia Dortmund
Starting with the hosts, only continuing on what has been a record-breaking flurry, Borussia Dortmund know they’re just 90 minutes away from Bundesliga history. With one final victory on Saturday afternoon enough to secure a first domestic crown since 2012, Edin Terzic’s side have certainly gained a string of plaudits this year. Last seen putting in another stellar display as they cruised their way to a 3-0 romp away at Augsburg, the German giants hare now unbeaten in each of their last seven Bundesliga appearances – a run that stems back to April 5th. With the mood around rural Germany at the highest it has been in recent memory, Saturday’s hosts have also found a real clinical edge in the final third. Including a stellar 5-2 victory against Borussia Monchengladbach on May 13th, Terzic’s high-flying squad have bagged 14 strikes in their last three top-flight wins.
Team News
Missing last weekend’s 3-0 romp away at Augsburg, England international Jude Bellingham is once again a major injury concern on Saturday afternoon. Likewise, Borussia Dortmund have confirmed that the likes of Thomas Meunier, Soumalia Coulibaly and Mateu Morey Bauza will not feature here.
Now notching back-to-back Bundesliga braces and recording six goals in as many domestic appearances, ex-West Ham striker Sebastian Haller will spearhead Dortmund’s attack this weekend.
Mainz
As for the visitors, while Mainz might have cruised their way to a top-half finish this season, Bo Svensson’s men are really limping their way over the finish line. Last seen putting in a nightmare display on home soil as they slumped to a 4-1 drumming at the hands of Stuttgart, the Reds have now lost each of their last four straight Bundesliga appearances. Knowing that they face a huge task when they travel to rural Germany on Saturday afternoon, Mainz have also continued to show some rather glaring defensive issues. In fact, along with signing off April with a 3-0 defeat away at Wolfsburg, it is worth highlighting that Svensson’s side have shipped 13 goals on their four-match losing run. Crashing back down to earth after securing that famous 3-1 win against Bayern Munich last month, that is the only top-flight victory that Mainz have collected since April 1st.
Team News
Dealing with what has become a mounting injury list, Mainz will travel to rural Germany on Saturday afternoon without the likes of Jonathan Burkardt, Alexander Hack, Silvan Widmer and Robin Zentner. However, serving a one-match suspension last weekend, 26-year-old Andreas Hanche-Olsen will make a full return here.
Enjoying a real purple patch since returning from March’s international break and finding the net in each of his last three Bundesliga appearances, Serhou Guirassy will spearhead Svensson’s attack this weekend.
Key Factors to Consider
- When the two sides met for their reverse Bundesliga meeting on January 25th, Borussia Dortmund picked up a 2-1 win at the MEWA Arena.
- Likewise, Saturday’s hosts have won each of their last four meetings against Mainz by an aggregate score of 9-3.
- Borussia Dortmund know that a victory here will be enough to secure a first Bundesliga crown since 2012.
- Including a 4-1 loss at home against Stuttgart last weekend, Mainz have lost each of their last four Bundesliga appearances.
- The Carnival Club have also shipped 13 goals on that four-match losing run.
Conclusion
Knowing that three points on Saturday afternoon will be enough to clinch a first Bundesliga crown since 2012, Borussia Dortmund are just 90 minutes away from making real history. In the midst of what has been a stellar run of form and now unbeaten in each of their last seven top-flight appearances, the German giants should be relishing Mainz’s arrival this weekend. Slumping to a 4-1 drumming at home against Stuttgart and losing their previous four Bundesliga outings, Svensson’s side face a huge challenge here. With the red-hot Haller enjoying his own free-scoring flurry, the ex-West Ham striker should be looking to drag Dortmund over the finish line.
Verdict: Sebastian Haller to score anytime
Best Odds: 1/1
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
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