A Bundesliga match on matchday 20 sees RB Leipzig host Mainz 05 at the Red Bull Arena on Saturday, in a fixture that pits two teams at opposite ends of the table against each other in the 2025/26 campaign.
Leipzig have shown inconsistency in recent weeks after a strong start, losing three times in their last six games and currently sitting fourth on goal difference. In midweek they were held to a 1-1 draw at relegation-threatened St. Pauli, with Yan Diomande’s opener before a stoppage-time penalty converted by Martijn Kaars earning a point for the home side.
Head coach Ole Werner has urged greater ruthlessness in the final third, saying opportunities against deep-lying opponents must be finished more precisely as Leipzig pursue three points against Mainz.
Team news for Leipzig includes injuries to Asan Ouédraogo, Castello Lukeba and Viggo Gebel, while Suleiman Sani has picked up an ankle injury ruling him out for several weeks. Christoph Baumgartner is suspended after a fifth yellow card, though Johan Bakayoko has returned to training with a decision on his availability expected on Friday.
Meanwhile, Mainz have improved under Urs Fischer, climbing out of the relegation places and up to 15th. Their away form remains a concern, with a first league road victory still elusive, but they secured a morale-boosting 3-1 home win against Wolfsburg last time out, with Philipp Tietz and Nadiem Amiri on the scoresheet and Stefan Bell ready to make his 300th Bundesliga appearance if selected.
Fischer has emphasized the need to take all three points in Leipzig, stating that the objective in every game is to win regardless of venue and that a positive outcome is essential for the club’s immediate aims.
On the Mainz injury front, Robin Zentner, Nikolas Veratschnig, Anthony Caci and Andreas Hanche-Olsen remain unavailable, while Sota Kawasaki cut short a training session on Wednesday and is doubtful for the trip.
Head-to-head history shows Leipzig have lost just one of their last four meetings with Mainz, while Mainz have been unbeaten in their last three visits to the Red Bull Arena. The previous meeting on matchday three ended 1-0 to Leipzig, with Johan Bakayoko scoring the decisive goal.
Predicted lineups:
RB Leipzig (4-3-3): Gulácsi (GK) - Baku, Orbán, Bitshiabu, Raum - Seiwald, Banzuzi, Schlager - Nusa, Rômulo, Diomande
Mainz 05 (3-5-2): Batz (GK) - Posch, Bell, Kohr - da Costa, J-S Lee, Sano, Amiri, Widmer - Hollerbach, Tietz
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