Marco Rose’s RB Leipzig will look to return to winning ways when they host fifth-placed FSV Mainz 05, who are also pushing for a Champions League spot.
Both RB Leipzig and FSV Mainz 05 are level on points in the Bundesliga and have similar ambitions heading into the final phase of the 2024/25 season. They want to secure a top-four finish, and the result of this fixture could have a big say on it.
The home team have been far from their best this season, and the fact that they failed to make it to the knockout rounds of the Champions League sums it up for them. While they have been unbeaten in their last six Bundesliga games, Leipzig have only won one of those fixtures.
Since Die Roten Bullen are only a point behind the team in fourth, they can still fulfil their ambitions. They are heading into this fixture on the back of a 1-0 win over VfL Wolfsburg in the DFB-Pokal quarter-finals and will be confident of getting things back on track in the league.
The visitors will be pleased with what they have done so far, as they are very much in contention for a top-four finish. Mainz have only lost one out of their last five Bundesliga games, and they are heading into this fixture on the back of consecutive league wins.
The clinical 2-0 win over FC St. Pauli last time out will certainly give them the belief that they can take down Leipzig. Since Marco Rose’s team are also pushing for a top-four finish, defeating them could be a massive boost for Mainz. The Hard Tackle takes a close look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could put to use.
Team News & Tactics
RB Leipzig
Marco Rose will most likely be without the services of Antonio Nusa, Yussuf Poulsen, Christoph Baumgartner, Forzan Assan Ouedraogo, Xaver Schlager, and Benjamin Henrichs.
The visitors could stick to the 3-4-1-2 formation that they deployed in their last outing in the DFB-Pokal. Peter Gulacsi will be the one in goal for them. Meanwhile, Castello Lukeba, Willi Orban, and Lutsharel Geertruida will form the back three for them.
Amadou Haidara and Kevin Kampl will feature as the central midfielders. The duo will look to control the tempo. Ridle Baku and David Raum will take up the role of wing-backs in this fixture. Xavi Simons will be the attacking midfielder behind the attacking duo of Benjamin Sesko and Lois Openda.
Probable Lineup (3-4-1-2): Gulacsi; Geertruida, Orban, Lukeba; Baku, Haidara, Kampl, Raum; Xavi; Sesko, Openda
FSV Mainz 05
Mainz will be without the services of Phillipp Mwene and Stefan Bell because of injury. Meanwhile, Dominik Kohr is suspended for this fixture.
FSV Mainz 05 will line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation for this outing against RB Leipzig on Saturday. Robin Zentner will take charge in goal, while Danny da Costa, Moritz Jenz, and Andreas Hanche-Olsen will form the back three.
Anthony Caci and Silvan Widmer will feature on the flanks as wing-backs. In the centre of the park, Kaishū Sano will partner with Nadiem Amiri. The duo will look to ensure Leipzig midfielders do not end up dominating the proceedings.
Paul Nebel and Lee Jae-sung will be the two attacking midfielders behind Jonathan Burkardt, who will lead the line for FSV Mainz 05 against RB Leipzig on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Zentner; Da Costa, Jenz, Hanche-Olsen; Caci, Sano, Amiri, Widmer; Nebel, Lee; Burkardt
Key Stats
- RB Leipzig and Mainz have faced each other 17 times, with the home team winning eight and the visitors winning five.
- Marco Rose’s team won 2-0 in the last meeting in October, ending a three-game goal drought against Mainz.
- Bo Henriksen’s men have won three of their last five league matches and have kept four clean sheets in the process.
- RB Leipzig have drawn three of their last five games in all competitions and also kept four clean sheets.
- FSV Mainz 05 have one of the best defences in the Bundesliga, conceding 24 goals in 23 matches.
Player to Watch
Benjamin Sesko
Sesko was on the wishlist of quite a few top clubs last summer, but he decided to continue at Leipzig for another season. While RB Leipzig have not been at their best, the 21-year-old is surely doing his bit as he has 22 goal contributions in his 33 outings. Having contributed towards two goals in their last league outing, he will be eager to add to his tally against Mainz.
Prediction
RB Leipzig 2-1 FSV Mainz 05
RB Leipzig might not have been at their best this season, but they have managed to stay in the race for a top-four finish, and they will surely put up a strong performance against Mainz, who will be looking to avenge the defeat in the reverse fixture. While the visitors will go all out for all three points, they are unlikely to succeed. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for the home team.
