Bayern Munich will look to keep up with the early pace-setters in the Bundesliga when they take on Mainz 05 at MEWA Arena on Saturday.
The international break is finally over, with the 2023/24 Bundesliga season resuming with the game between Borussia Dortmund and Werder Bremen on Friday. Defending champions Bayern Munich will be in action on Saturday as they lock horns with Mainz 05 at MEWA Arena.
Three clubs are yet to record a win in the Bundesliga thus far this term, one of them being Mainz 05. Bo Svensson’s men were flawless during their pre-season campaign, thus giving hope for a solid league season. But they have managed only two points from their first seven outings, although they went into the international break on the back of a come-from-behind 2-2 draw with Borussia Monchengladbach.
Mainz and Bayern Munich have one thing in common, with both teams playing two stalemates in the Bundesliga thus far. But the reigning champions have won their other five games, although the two draws have left them two points behind Bayer Leverkusen.
The corresponding fixture last season saw Mainz coming from a goal down to beat Bayern Munich 3-1. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Mainz 05
Time to attack things together 👊⚔️#Mainz05 #M05FCB pic.twitter.com/A7Md2pJGo2
— Mainz 05 English (@Mainz05en) October 20, 2023
Bo Svensson has many roster issues hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against Bayern Munich on Saturday, the Mainz 05 manager might be bereft of the services of seven first-team players.
Anwar El Ghazi is the latest absentee, with the 28-year-old serving an internal suspension after making a post on the Israel-Palestine war. El Ghazi has joined Andreas Hanche-Olsen (ankle), Maxim Leitsch (knee), Phillipp Mwene (knee), Jonathan Burkardt (knee), Nelson Weiper (hamstring), and Karim Onisiwo (muscle injury) on the sidelines.
Robin Zentner will take his spot between the sticks, with Mainz lining up in a 3-4-2-1 formation in front of him. Sepp van den Berg, Stefan Bell and Edimilson Fernandes will complete the central defensive unit. The trio will aim to remain compact to cut off the passing lanes for Bayern Munich.
Danny da Costa and Anthony Caci will be the two wing-backs, with the duo providing width in the final third. The pair will also flank Leandro Barreiro and Dominik Kohr in the middle of the park, with the two midfielders covering the backline while initiating quick transitions.
Finally, Ludovic Ajorque will spearhead the Mainz attack against Bayern Munich on Saturday, with Lee Jae-sung and Brajan Gruda completing the numbers in the offensive unit.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Zentner; van den Berg, Bell, Fernandes; Da Costa, Barreiro, Kohr, Caci; Lee, Gruda; Ajorque
Bayern Munich
Like his counterpart in the Mainz 05 dugout, Thomas Tuchel has a few pressing concerns to deal with ahead of the trip to MEWA Arena. The Bayern Munich manager will be without five first-team players on Saturday.
Manuel Neuer is close to returning to action but is still lacking match fitness. So Sven Ulreich will feature between the sticks for Bayern Munich. Meanwhile, Tarek Buchmann (thigh), Guerreiro (thigh), Dayot Upamecano (hamstring), and Serge Gnabry (arm) are also unavailable.
🎙️ Tuchel on the squad: "We have to see if Joshua Kimmich can play, because he only trained for the first time yesterday. Noussair Mazraoui, Serge Gnabry, Dayot Upamecano and Raphaël Guerreiro are all injured. Everyone else could travel; Leon Goretzka is a doubt."#M05FCB pic.twitter.com/BAjl5O4gOe
— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) October 20, 2023
Konrad Laimer, while a midfielder, has primarily featured as a right-back for Bayern Munich this season. The Austrian international will join Kim Min-jae, Matthijs de Ligt, and Alphonso Davies in the defensive unit.
As for the midfield department, Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka continue as the partnership in the double pivot. Meanwhile, Jamal Musiala will be the most advanced midfielder, with the 20-year-old taking up positions in and around the Mainz box. Finally, Harry Kane will spearhead the attack, with Leroy Sane and Kingsley Coman completing the numbers.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Ulreich; Laimer, Kim, De Ligt, Davies; Kimmich, Goretzka; Coman, Musiala, Sane; Kane
Key Stats
- Mainz have won their last three home games against Bayern Munich, conceding only one goal in each outing.
- Mainz enjoyed their best-ever Bundesliga finish under Thomas Tuchel in 2010/11 (fifth). He is the club’s most successful coach of the Bundesliga era (1.41 points per game), ahead of Bo Svensson (1.35).
- Bayern Munich have scored at least once in their last 16 away Bundesliga fixtures. FC Augsburg were the last home team to keep a clean sheet against them (1-0, 17 September 2022).
- Mainz are without a win in 12 Bundesliga games (D3 L9). Coincidentally, their last victory in the German top flight came against Bayern Munich.
- Harry Kane is averaging a goal every 76 minutes in the Bundesliga. He has scored in five of his seven games and is yet to go more than one without a goal.
Player to Watch
Jamal Musiala
The Bayern Munich eleven always has many players who dominate the headlines and take the spotlight when they take the pitch. None of them get better than Harry Kane, considering his impact at the Allianz Arena thus far. But we have gone ahead with Jamal Musiala.
The 20-year-old has the world at his feet despite being at the early stage of his career. In addition, recent reports have pointed to a delay in contract talks with Bayern Munich, which has alerted high-profile clubs. But the youngster will look to keep the white noise in the background and let his game do the talking for him.
Prediction
Mainz 05 0-3 Bayern Munich
Mainz 05 vs Bayern Munich is a mismatch, with the home side having next to no chance of getting something from the game. The hosts barely score goals while conceding plenty in seven outings thus far.
On the other hand, Bayern Munich’s offensive output remains high despite the failure to win two games. Harry Kane has hit the ground running, while Jamal Musiala is showing no signs of slowing down. And the duo should guide Bayern Munich to a 3-0 win over Mainz 05 this Saturday.
