Borussia Dortmund can claim their first league title in 11 years with a win over 1. FSV Mainz 05 on the final matchday of the season.
Borussia Dortmund are all set to host FSV Mainz 05 on Saturday in a match that will decide who lifts the Bundesliga title. Dortmund have a two-point lead at the top of the table, and a win will do it for them. Meanwhile, the visitors will be eager to end their four-match losing streak and cause a major upset.
Dortmund were nine points behind Bayern Munich after Matchday 15, and the title race seemed done and dusted. However, they have managed to slowly close the gap down before reclaiming the lead at the right moment. With just one game to go, all they need to do is win at home.
Bayern Munich have been inconsistent of late, and Dortmund have managed to capitalise having picked up 17 points from their last 21 available. Edin Terzic’s men have won their last three matches in the league and will be eager to make it four in a row.
They have the best home record in the Bundesliga, having won 14 out of their 16 home games. Dortmund will host FSV Mainz 05 for this title decider, and they will be confident of sealing their first league title in 11 years. Meanwhile, the visitors are currently ninth in the league with 45 points out of their 33 matches.
They have done a decent job throughout the season but their form of late has been a concern for their fans. Mainz have lost each of their last four league games and might find it difficult to end that streak against Dortmund, Mainz were in contention for a European spot but their recent form has not helped their cause.
The result of this fixture won’t change much for them, but they would love to finish on a high. As far as the reverse fixture is concerned, Dortmund came out on top with a scoreline of 2-1 and they will hope for a similar result this time around. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at this fixture and tries to predict the tactics they could use.
Team News & Tactics
Borussia Dortmund
RT for Karim Adeyemi 🫵🧿🤏 pic.twitter.com/EfuWqXEriT
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) May 26, 2023
Borussia Dortmund will be without the services of Thomas Meunier and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, who are out injured. Meanwhile, Soumaila Coulibaly is unavailable as he is away on international duty with France Under-20s.
Star midfielder Jude Bellingham, who was absent from their last fixture, is likely to return to the mix. Recent reports have heavily linked him with Real Madrid. So Saturday’s fixture might be his last with Borussia Dortmund. And he will be eager to bow out on a high.
Edin Terzic could go ahead with the 4-3-3 formation, where Gregor Kobel will start in goal. Mats Hummels and Niklas Sule should form the central defensive partnership in front of the goalkeeper. Marius Wolf and Julian Ryerson should start out wide in defence as the full-backs.
As far as the midfield is concerned, Julian Brandt, Emre Can and Jude Bellingham should take charge in the centre of the park. With Bellingham back in the mix, Dortmund will be confident of dominating the ball and dictating the pace of this game.
Donyell Malen and Karim Adeyemi will start out wide on both wings. The duo has been doing wonders for Dortmund and they will look to continue in similar fashion. Meanwhile, Sebastien Haller will be leading the line. We could see Giovanni Reyna come on as a substitute after having scored a 93rd-minute winner in a 2-1 victory over Mainz last time out.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Kobel; Wolf, Sule, Hummels, Ryerson; Brandt, Can, Bellingham; Malen, Haller, Adeyemi
1. FSV Mainz 05
Mainz will be without the services of Jonathan Burkardt, Alexander Hack, Silvan Widmer and Maxim Leitsch, who are all out injured.
Unsere Bilanz der letzten drei Spiele in Dortmund:
S – U – N
Und morgen so? 👀#Mainz05 #BVBM05 pic.twitter.com/wYQ2K8upyd— 1. FSV Mainz 05 (@1FSVMainz05) May 26, 2023
Meanwhile, Ludovic Ajorque is unavailable due to suspension after an accumulation of yellow cards. They do have a boost as Andreas Hanche-Olsen is back in the mix after being suspended for their last outing.
Bo Svensson is expected to go ahead with the 3-4-2-1 formation, where Robin Zentner will line up in goal. The back three will comprise Andreas Hanche-Olsen, Stefan Bell and Edimilson Fernandes. The trio will have the tough task of keeping the lighting-fast Dortmund attack at bay.
Danny da Costa and Anthony Caci will start out wide in the centre of the park. They will feature in the role of wing-backs. Meanwhile, Leandro Barreiro and Dominik Kohr will start as the central midfielders. Anton Stach and Marcus Ingvartsen will start as the two attacking midfielders behind their striker Ludovic Ajorque.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Zentner; Hanche-Olsen, Bell, Fernandes; Da Costa, Barreiro, Kohr, Caci; Stach, Ingvartsen; Onisiwo
Key Stats
- Borussia Dortmund have won 20 of the last 35 matches against 1. FSV Mainz 05.
- Mainz have been on the wrong side of the result only twice in their last five league matches against Dortmund.
- Dortmund have become the first team to move to the top of the table in the Bundesliga on the last matchday since VfB Stuttgart did it in 2007.
- Borussia Dortmund can win their ninth Bundesliga title and their first since the 2011/12 campaign with a win against Mainz.
- Mainz are on a four-match losing streak in the league and this is their first such streak under Bo Svensson.
Player to Watch
Jude Bellingham
Despite being just 19, Bellingham is one of the most important players in the Dortmund setup. And, he will be keen on helping his side win the league. With Bellingham likely to part ways with the club in the summer, he will be eager to leave the club with the Bundesliga medal around his neck.
The England international has 13 goal contributions in his 31 league outings this season. He will be keen on adding to it when he takes the field against FSV Mainz 05 in this all-important title-deciding fixture.
Prediction
Borussia Dortmund 2-0 1. FSV Mainz 05
1. FSV Mainz 05 have lost their last four matches in the league; they were in decent form throughout the campaign but have been derailed of late. They will be eager to finish the season on a high with a win over league leaders Dortmund. But, it might not be that easy a task.
Meanwhile, the home team could lift their first league title in 11 years with a win in this fixture. They will give it their all and are expected to go all out. Given the quality in Dortmund’s ranks and their recent form, they can come out top in this fixture. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-0 win for Dortmund and with that, they will lift the Bundesliga title.
