Borussia Dortmund takes on Mainz in the Bundesliga on Wednesday night and they will be hoping to build on their recent win over Augsburg.
The away side are coming into this game on the back of four wins from their last six matches and they managed to break the losing streak with the win over Augsburg. The 4-3 win at home will have given them a much-needed confidence boost and Dortmund will fancy their chances of picking up all three points here.
Borussia Dortmund are currently 6th in the league table and they could climb up to second in the standings if they manage to win their game and the other results go their way.
🎙 Edin #Terzic zur Stimmung nach #BVBFCA: "Es war ein Mix aus Selbstkritik und Freude über die drei Punkte. Wir haben viele Themen mitgenommen, die wir abstellen müssen, haben das auch direkt besprochen."#M05BVB pic.twitter.com/L8yCgIqSuQ
— Borussia Dortmund (@BVB) January 24, 2023
As for the hosts, Mainz have been in disappointing form lately and they have failed to win the last five league matches. However, they managed to grind out a draw in their last two league outings and the home side will be hoping to get back to winning ways here.
A win against Dortmund could help them climb to the top half of the league table.
💬 Bo Svensson: "We have posed a threat to several strong teams already this season, including Leipzig and Frankfurt. We want to do the same against Dortmund."#Mainz05 #M05BVB pic.twitter.com/e9X8ZG2TZl
— Mainz 05 English (@Mainz05en) January 24, 2023
Team News and Tactics
FC Mainz
The home side will be without the services of Marlon Mustapha because of an injury. Dominic Kohr is suspended after picking up his 5th booking of the season.
Mainz are likely to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation with Robin Zentner in goal.
The back three will comprise of Alexander Hack, Edmilson Fernandes and Anthony Caci.
Silvan Widmer and Aaron Martin are expected to start as the wing-backs and they will look to provide defensive cover and influence the game in the final third as well.
In the centre of the park, Leandro Barreiro will partner with Aymen Barkok.
Jae-Sung Lee and Karim Onisiwo are expected to add creativity in the middle and they will line up as the central attacking midfielders behind Marcus Ingvartsen who will lead the line.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Zentner; Hack, Fernandes, Caci; Widmer, Barreiro, Barkok, Martin; Lee, Onisiwo; Ingvartsen
Borussia Dortmund
Dortmund will be without the services of Thomas Meunier and Mateu Morey because of injuries.
Marco Reus missed training on Monday due to illness and it will be interesting to see if he can return for this contest.
However, the major blow for the away side is the absence of Jude Bellingham who collected his fifth booking of the season against Augsburg and is set to be suspended.
🎙 #Terzic zum Personal: "#Meunier und #Morey stehen nicht zur Verfügung. Jude #Bellingham fällt wegen seiner 5. Gelben Karte aus. Emre #Can ist wieder im Training. Marco #Reus hat zehn Tage nicht trainieren können, soll aber heute dabei sein, da müssen wir sehen."#M05BVB pic.twitter.com/obYq6B4aal
— Borussia Dortmund (@BVB) January 24, 2023
Edin Terzic is expected to field his side in a 4-4-1-1 formation with Gregor Kobel in goal.
Julian Ryerson and Raphael Guerreiro are set to be deployed as the full-backs here with Mats Hummels partnering with Niklas Sule at the heart of the Dortmund defence.
Donyell Malan and Karim Adeyemi will be the wingers here and they will look to provide width and pace in transitions.
Salih Ozcan will partner with Mahmoud Dahoud in the middle of the park. Giovanni Reyna is expected to start as the number ten here. The United States midfielder will be expected to link the midfield with the attack and he will have to supply the creativity in the absence of Billingham. Youssoufa Moukoko is set to lead the line for the visitors.
Probable Lineup (4-4-1-1): Kobel; Ryerson, Hummels, Sule, Guerreiro; Malen, Ozcan, Dahoud, Adeyemi; Reyna; Moukoko
Key Stats
- Borussia Dortmund have won their last 5 away matches against Mainz in all competitions.
- Borussia Dortmund have scored at least 2 goals in 5 of their last 6 matches (Bundesliga).
- Borussia Dortmund have conceded at least 2 goals in their last 3 matches (Bundesliga).
- Mainz have failed to win their last 5 matches (Bundesliga).
- 15 goals have been scored in the last six matches between FC Mainz and Borussia Dortmund.
Player to watch
Giovanni Reyna
The 20-year-old attacking midfielder is expected to play a key role in the absence of Jude Bellingham. Dortmund will look at him for creativity in the final third and he will be hoping to make his mark against Mainz.
The American impressed with his cameo against Augsburg and he managed to get on the scoresheet. He will be hoping to put in a similar display against Mainz from the start tomorrow.
Prediction
FC Mainz 1-1 Borussia Dortmund
The home side have not been at their best in recent weeks and they have failed to win their last 5 league matches. However, they have been difficult to beat in their last two league outings. Mainz will be desperate to grind out a positive result at home and this will be a tricky encounter for Borussia Dortmund.
Without their best player, the visitors are likely to struggle to control the midfield and create abundant chances. This is likely to be a close contest with the two sides cancelling each other out in the end.
The Hard Tackle predicts a 1-1 draw between the two teams.