Leipzig-Mainz is a match in the 26th day of the Bundesliga and is played on Saturday at 15:30: TV, formations, predictions.
In their last game before the break Leipzig showed they had taken the blow following their thrashing by Manchester City in the Champions League, a humiliating 7-0 defeat that ruled Marco Rose and his men out of the queen event.
Just a few days after the disastrous night at the Etihad Stadium, the Roten Bullen fell to a surprise defeat at home to Bochum, their second consecutive away defeat after Borussia Dortmund. Despite dominating far and wide and building more than three times as many chances as Thomas Letsch’s team, Leipzig were unable to take the three points away from the Ruhr city, conceding goals on virtually the only shot on goal by their opponents. It was a surprising and unexpected setback that saw the red and whites slip out of the Champions League zone: fourth place is one of their two remaining objectives, along with the German Cup, in which they prepare to face Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-final which puts a pass to the semi-finals up for grabs.
Mainz on a six-day winning streak
However, before focusing on the challenge with the Yellow and Black Leipzig cannot afford to lose any more points on the road in the league.
The competition is tight and the distances, with the exception of Borussia and Bayern Munich – now the two protagonists in the title fight – are getting smaller and smaller. In short, a fiery end to the season is in sight. Bo Svensson’s Mainz, Leipzig’s next opponent at the Red Bull Arena, is also still cultivating European ambitions. The formation coached by the Danish coach has definitively overcome the difficult moment and presents itself to the appointment with the more quoted Roten Bullen in confidence, fresh from six positive results (four victories and two draws), which have catapulted it again in the left part of the classification. Seventh place is only one point away: Mainz are also in the running for qualification to the next Conference League. Svensson hopes to have Onisiwo back, who is struggling with a knee problem. On the other side, however, Nkunku is still out.
The Prediction
The break might have done Leipzig some good, as they are now aiming for their third consecutive home win: only Borussia Dortmund have done better than the Roten Bullen in front of their home crowd. Mainz are a tough customer but Marco Rose’s men have no alternative but to win: the risk is to lose the Champions League train. Their success cannot be ruled out in a match that promises goals.
Leipzig-Mainz matchday squad
- LIPSIA (4-4-2): Blaswich; Henrichs, Orban, Gvardiol, Raum; Szoboszlai, Laimer, Haidara, Dani Olmo; André Silva, Werner.
- MAINZ (3-4-1-2): Zentner; Hanche-Olsen, Bell, Fernandes; da Costa, Barreiro, Stach, Caci; Lee; Ingvartsen, Ajorque.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-1
