Mainz will host Borussia Dortmund at the Mewa Arena this Saturday at 15:30 CEST, with both teams looking to build on their recent victories.
After a difficult start to the Bundesliga season, Mainz secured their first league win with a 4-1 victory over Augsburg, which lifted them to 13th place with four points after four matches. The standout performer was Kaishu Sano, who scored his first Bundesliga goal and provided two assists. Coach Bo Henriksen also made a surprise decision to start Armindo Sieb, who responded with a goal and earned another starting position for the upcoming match.
However, the victory came with setbacks as Mainz confirmed that Anthony Caci suffered a muscle tendon injury, sidelining him until early 2026. Additionally, Dominik Kohr received a red card against Augsburg and will serve a suspension, prompting defensive adjustments. Despite these challenges, Henriksen expressed confidence, stating that his team respects Dortmund but is not afraid of them.
In terms of team news, Caci and Kohr are unavailable, while Silvan Widmer faces a late fitness test. If Widmer cannot play, Nikolas Veratsching may make his first start, or Arnaud Nordin could shift to a wing-back role. On a positive note, Jae-Sung Lee has returned to training and is available, while Benedict Hollerbach may also return to the squad.
Dortmund has enjoyed a strong start to the season, accumulating 10 points from 12 and sitting in second place, just two points behind Bayern Munich. The team achieved a professional 1-0 win against VfL Wolfsburg in their last match, with Karim Adeyemi scoring the decisive goal. Dortmund's defense has been a key factor in their success, having conceded only three goals and recorded three consecutive clean sheets.
Head coach Niko Kovac acknowledged Mainz's intensity and running effort but expressed confidence in his team's ability to maintain their momentum. Team news for Dortmund includes the absence of Julien Duranville, Emre Can, and Aaron Anselmino, while Niklas Süle and Fabio Silva are nearing returns. Serhou Guirassy, who sustained a knock, has been cleared to play.
In their last encounter in March, Dortmund won 3-1, but Mainz had been unbeaten in the four matches prior, indicating a competitive rivalry. Kovac has a strong record against Mainz, winning 10 of 13 encounters, and will aim to extend that success this weekend.
Predicted lineups for the match are as follows:
Mainz 05: (3-4-2-1): Zentner (GK) - da Costa, Hanche-Olsen, Bell - Widmer, Amiri, Sano, Mwene - Nebel, Nordin - Sieb
Borussia Dortmund (3-4-2-1): Kobel (GK) - Anton, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini - Ryerson, Sabitzer, Nmecha, Svensson - Adeyemi, Beier - Guirassy
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