Borussia Dortmund will host FSV Mainz 05 at Signal Iduna Park on Sunday evening, looking to bounce back strongly.
Borussia Dortmund have been quite disappointing in their last few outings, and they have lost four of their last six matches in the Bundesliga ahead of the game vs FSV Mainz at Signal Iduna Park on Sunday.
On the other hand, FSV Mainz 05 are third in the league table, and they were in impressive form prior to the international break. The away side are unbeaten in the last six matches in the Bundesliga, and they will look to file further miseries on the home side with a positive performance away from home.
The visitors will look to secure UEFA Champions League qualification for the next season, and they need to grind out important points in these matches. Mainz managed to beat Borussia Dortmund earlier in the season, and it remains to be seen whether they can complete a league double over the home team.
The home fans will be expecting a strong reaction from the Borussia Dortmund players, and it remains to be seen whether they can step up and deliver. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Borussia Dortmund
Marcel Sabitzer is the only player ruled out with for the home side, as he recovers from a knee injury. Borussia Dortmund will shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs FSV Mainz 05, with Gregor Kobel in goal.
Julian Ryerson and Ramy Bensebaini will start in the full-back areas. They will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. Niklas Sule and Nico Schlotterbeck will form the central defensive partnership.
As for the midfield unit, Emre Can and Pascal Gross will add physicality and defensive cover to the side from the middle of the park. Julian Brandt will start as the attacking midfielder, and he will look to create goalscoring opportunities for his teammates.
Karim Adeyemi and Jamie Gittens will start in the wide areas. They will look to add pace and flair to the side. Serhou Guirassy will lead the line for Borussia Dortmund vs FSV Mainz 05 at Signal Iduna Park on Sunday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Kobel; Ryerson, Sule, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Can, Gross; Adeyemi, Brandt, Gittens; Guirassy
Mainz 05
The away side will be without two players here. Dominik Kohr is suspended after his sending off, while Phillipp Mwene is suspended after picking up five yellow cards.
FSV Mainz are likely to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation vs Borussia Dortmund, with Robin Zentner in goal. In the back three, Danny da Costa will start alongside Moritz Jenz and Andreas Hanche-Olsen.
Anthony Caci and Silvan Widmer are expected to start as the wing-backs, and they will look to provide defensive cover and help out in the attack as well. In the middle of the park, Nadiem Amiri will start alongside Kaishu Sano. They will add defensive steel and control to the side.
Nelson Weiper and Paul Nebel will add creativity to the side as the central attacking midfienlders. Finally, Jonathan Burkardt will spearhead the FSV Mainz 05 attack vs Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park on Sunday.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Zentner; da Costa, Jenz, Hanche-Olsen; Caci, Amiri, Sano, Widmer; Weiper, Nebel; Burkardt
Key Stats
- FSV Mainz 05 have scored at least two goals in their last five matches in the Bundesliga.
- Mainz are unbeaten in their last six matches in the Bundesliga.
- Borussia Dortmund have lost four of the last six matches in the Bundesliga.
- 17 goals have been scored in the last six meetings between these two teams.
Player to Watch
Jonathan Burkardt
The FSV Mainz 05 striker is having an outstanding season, and he will look to add to his goal tally for the season. Borussia Dortmund have looked quite vulnerable in their last few Bundesliga matches, and he will look to take advantage of their frailties at the back.
Burkardt will look to punish them with his creativity, movement and goalscoring ability. The German international will look to find the back of the net and open up opportunities for his teammates as well.
Prediction
Borussia Dortmund 1-2 FSV Mainz 05
Both teams will be desperate for a victory here, and this is likely to be a close contest. Neither team will want to end up on the losing side. They are likely to take an attacking approach and there will be plenty of chances on offer.
Borussia Dortmund and Mainz are likely to get on the score sheet here, but the away side have the quality, the confidence, and the momentum to grind out a narrow win. Borussia Dortmund are likely to be let down by their defensive unit again. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Bo Henriksen and his charges.
