Borussia Dortmund will be eager to return to winning ways when they welcome FSV Mainz 05 to Signal Iduna on Tuesday.
A rare midweek Bundesliga round of fixtures is upon us. The action on Tuesday will kick-start with the game between Werder Bremen and RB Leipzig at the Weser Arena. The other eye-catching game of Matchday 16 of the Premier League will have Borussia Dortmund hosting FSV Mainz at the Siglan Iduna Park.
Borussia Dortmund finished atop the group of death in the UEFA Champions League, with Paris Saint-Germain three points adrift. But the Black and Yellows have blown hot and cold in the Bundesliga, falling to fifth in the standings after failing to win their last three league games.
On the other hand, FSV Mainz would have hoped for a much better campaign in the first half of the 2023/24 season. The 05ers sit in the drop zone, with no other team having fewer points than them. Jan Siewert’s men have won just one game thus far this term, with that victory coming in November, with the team going five games without a positive result.
The corresponding fixture last season saw Borussia Dortmund coming from two goals down to hold FCV Mainz to a 2-2 draw. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Borussia Dortmund
Edin Terzic has a new injury concern hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against FSV Mainz 05 on Tuesday, the Borussia Dortmund manager will be bereft of the services of four first-team players.
Karim Adeyemi is the latest absentee, with the German international sustaining a hamstring injury that will keep him on the sidelines for the next few weeks. Adeyemi has joined Julian Ryerson (knee), Felix Nmecha (hip), and Youssoufa Moukoko (ankle) in the treatment room.
Adeyemi’s absence means Donyell Malen has a space open in the final third. The Dutchman will accompany Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Niclas Fullkrug in the final third. Meanwhile, Marco Reus and Julian Brandt will be the creative workhorses. Emre Can will complete the numbers in the final third, with the Borussia Dortmund captain looking to keep things tight in the middle of the park.
The defensive unit should not throw up any surprises, with Thomas Meunier and Ramy Bensebaini being the two full-backs. Finally, Mats Hummels will pair up with Nico Schlotterbeck in the central defensive partnership, with Gregor Kobel taking his usual spot between the sticks.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Kobel; Meunier, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Reus, Can, Brandt; Malen, Fullkrug, Bynoe-Gittens
FSV Mainz
Like his counterpart in the Borussia Dortmund dugout, Jan Siewert has a plethora of issues to deal with ahead of the trip to the Signal Iduna Park. The FSV Mainz 05 manager might be without as many as nine first-team players.
Robin Zentner (finger), Maxim Leitsch (thigh), Andreas Hanche-Olsen (ankle), Anthony Caci (abdominals), Leandro Barreiro (thigh), Josuha Guilavogui (hamstring), and Nelson Weiper (hamstring) are in the treatment room. In addition, Siewert is sweating over the fitness of Edmilson Fernandes (thigh), and Silvam Widmer (ill).
With many regulars unavailable, it is hardly surprising that the visitors have managed anything from recent games. Meanwhile, Daniel Batz will deputise for Zentner between the sticks, taking his usual spot in the goal. As for the backline, Danny da Costa and Phillipp Mwene will be the two full-backs. Finally, Sepp van den Berg and Dominik Kohr should be the two central defenders.
As for the midfield unit, Merveille Papela and Tom Krauss will look to hold the fort in the middle of the park. The duo will also aim for quick transitions during turnovers. They will link up with Lee Jae-sung, who will pull the strings in the final third. Ludovic Ajorque will spearhead the Mainz attack against Borussia Dortmund, with Brajan Gruda and Marco Richter being the two wide attackers.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Batz; da Costa, van den Berg, Kohr, Mwene; Papela, Krauss; Gruda, Lee, Richter; Ajorque
Key Stats
- Borussia Dortmund have a superior head-to-head record against FSV Mainz, clinching 20 wins in 28 outings (D4 L4).
- Mainz are unbeaten in five away matches. They were all draws, with their last win on the road coming in April (3-0 at RB Leipzig). The 05ers have conceded just one goal in their most recent three away matches.
- But FSV Mainz 05 have failed to win 19 of their last 20 games in the Bundesliga.
- 15 goals have been scored in the past three Bundesliga games in Dortmund.
- Niclas Fullkrug has five assists so far this season in addition to five strikes – placing him just one goal involvement behind the most creative BVB player so far this season, Julian Brandt.
Player to Watch
Donyell Malen
Niclas Fullkrug, Marco Reus, and Julian Brandt will invariably be under the spotlight in the last game of 2023. But Donyell Malen gets the nod for this section amid uncertainties surrounding his future.
Recent reports have claimed that the Dutchman feels he is ready for a new adventure. That comes in the wake of emerging links with high-profile European clubs. Malen can attract suitors with eye-catching performances for Borussia Dortmund. But he will be focused on the job at hand this midweek and look to deliver the goods against FSV Mainz.
Prediction
Borussia Dortmund 2-1 FSV Mainz
FSV Mainz might have a decent away run in the Bundesliga. But Borussia Dortmund might be too strong a challenge for the 05ers to overcome, especially amid the home side’s desperation to stitch a long winning run.
However, Borussia Dortmund’s defensive vulnerabilities will keep Mainz in the game for long periods. While the visitors will give the Black and Yellows a run for their money, they might not have enough quality to take anything from the game. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Edin Terzic and his charges.
Wining