Mainz-Schalke 04 is a match in the 31st day of the Bundesliga and is played Friday at 8:30pm: TV, lineups, predictions.
Mainz failed to capitalize on the excitement of their success two weeks ago against former Thomas Tuchel’s Bayern Munich, who were beaten 3-1 and slowed down in their title race. Bo Svensson’s red-and-whites on Sunday suffered a sound defeat at home to Wolfsburg, a 3-0 loss that leaves little room for interpretation.
A match, the one at the Volkswagen Arena, that was already in the archives after half an hour: Bornauw and Wind (double) put an end to the Nullfunfer’s very long series of positive results, which had lasted a full ten Bundesliga days. For Mainz, which had not run out of goals since November, it was a wasted opportunity: despite too many ups and downs in the first part of the season, it is in fact still in the running for a place in Europe. Onisiwo and his teammates have three points less than sixth-ranked Bayer Leverkusen – which plays at the same time in the advance with Cologne – and Wolfsburg, which overtook them seven days ago, is now just a pasting ahead. Svensson, however, does not disdain seventh position either, which at the end of the season could give them a pass to the next Conference League, depending on who wins the German Cup.
Schalke 04 still hopes
The schedule, however, does not allow for any flights of fancy: in the last four days Mainz will face Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Dortmund on the road.
Ajorque
Reason why the red-and-whites will have to aim to win their two home matches: the first is against Schalke 04, the protagonist of a relegation fight that has revived again. Thomas Reis’ team, given up for dead until a few months ago, is now in the running, especially thanks to two consecutive victories in front of their home crowd against Hertha Berlin and Werder Bremen. The club from Gelsenkirchen in any case is still penultimate and cannot commit any missteps between now and next May 27: salvation is possible since as many as four teams are enclosed in just two points. Always long is the list of unavailable players faced by Schalke coach Reis, who will be without Balanta, Brunner, Fährmann, Heekeren, Jenz, Kozuki and Skarke in Mainz. Mainz, on the other hand, will be without Burkardt, Leitsch and former Udinese player Widmer.
The prediction
Schalke 04 on the road this year has been a disaster and away from Gelsenkirchen has barely won a game, scoring the pittance of seven goals. But this looks so much like an inside-out match for Reis’s men, and it is not out of the question that they will manage to avoid defeat in a match of at least one goal on each side.
The probable lineups of Mainz-Schalke 04
- MAINZ (3-4-2-1): Zentner; Hanche-Olsen, Bell, Fernandes; Da Costa, Barreiro, Kohr, Caci; Lee, Onisiwo; Ajorque.
- SCHALKE 04 (4-2-3-1): Schwolow; Matriciani, Yoshida, Kaminski, Uronen; Kral, Krauß; Karaman, Zalazar, Bülter; Terodde.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
