Prediction: Mainz vs Borussia Dortmund

Verdict: Under 3.5 goals

Best Odds: 4/6

Bookmaker: Dachbet

Looking to find a route into the Bundesliga’s top-four this weekend, Borussia Dortmund will travel to Mainz on Saturday afternoon.

Mainz

Starting with the hosts, while Mainz might have entered October’s international break with a much-needed 3-0 victory away at St. Pauli, the Carnival Club have drastically struggled to find any kind of stability since returning from the fortnight interval. Watching their DFP Pokal adventure come to an end last week as they fell to a routine 4-0 drumming at the hands of Bayern Munich, Bo Henriksen’s men are firmly looking over their shoulder at another Bundesliga relegation scrap. Marking their return from October’s international break with a 2-0 loss at home against RB Leipzig, Mainz now hold just a two-point buffer from slipping into the relegation play-off spot. Facing another stern challenge this weekend, it should also be noted that Saturday’s hosts have collected just a single point from any of their first four Bundesliga showdowns at the MEWA Arena.

Team News

Missing out away at Freiburg last weekend, Mainz are once again expected to be without German defender Moritz Jenz on Saturday afternoon. Returning from a minor knock and making a full recall last week, academy graduate Jonathan Burkardt will be hoping to keep his spot leading the line.

Arriving from Bayer Leverkusen on a permanent basis over the summer, Nadiem Amiri will start at the heart of Mainz’s midfield. Despite arriving from Bayern Munich on a season-long loan switch, Armindo Sieb will have to settle for a spot on the bench here.

Borussia Dortmund

As for the visitors, while Borussia Dortmund might have struggled to find top gear earlier in the week as they turned their attention back to Champions League duties, Nuri Sahin’s side did snatched a 1-0 victory against Strum Graz. Although BVB might have struggled to find any kind of stability this season, the German giants will be excited by a real statement last weekend. Mounting a comeback on home soil as they clinched a 2-1 win against RB Leipzig, the one-time Liverpool midfielder is still looking to ease some of the mounting pressure on his shoulders. Crashing out of the DFP Pokal on October 29th as they suffered penalties heartbreak at the hands of Wolfsburg, Dortmund have gained a real reputation for their struggles outside of rural Germany. Including a shock 2-1 loss against Augsburg last month, last season’s Champions League finalists have lost each of their previous five consecutive showdowns on the road.

Team News

Once again missing out in Strum Graz earlier in the week and yet to make a single appearance since the start of October, Borussia Dortmund are once again expected to be without Karim Adeyemi here. Likewise, number one goalkeeper Gregor Kobel remains a major doubt after picking up a recent muscle injury.

Coming off the bench and bagging a Champions League winner on Tuesday night, Dutch international Donnell Malen could be handed a full recall. Already putting five Bundesliga goals on the board, summer recruit Serhou Guirassy will spearhead Sahin’s charge this weekend.

Key Factors to Consider

• When Mainz and Borussia Dortmund last met back on May 11th, the Carnival Club collected a sensational 3-0 romp on home soil.
• In fact, Saturday’s hosts are unbeaten in each of their previous three meetings against last season’s Champions League finalists.
• Borussia Dortmund have lost each of their previous five straight showdowns outside of rural Germany.
• Mainz have recorded just a single goal in any of their last four appearances across all competitions.
• Likewise, the Carnival Club have recorded just a single strike in front of their own supporters since back on September 15th.

Conclusion

Remarkably losing each of their previous five straight showdowns outside of rural Germany, Borussia Dortmund will certainly have plenty of pressure on their shoulders here. Despite eventually snatching a 1-0 victory against Strum Graz in midweek, BVB will be concerned by their most recent trip to Saturday’s hosts. Falling to an infamous 3-0 drumming when they travelled to the MEWA Arena back on May 11th, Sahin’s inconsistent squad could face another potential banana skin.

Verdict: Under 2.5 goals

Best Odds: 4/6

Bookmaker: Dachbet