Borussia Dortmund – FSV Mainz
Before the Bundesliga clubs finally head into the Christmas holidays, they have to deliver once again at the end of the English week. Dortmund have a clash with FSV Mainz 05 on the agenda on Tuesday evening. There is a lot at stake for the teams on this 16th matchday, as the coaches of both teams were not satisfied with the results last weekend. Read our Dortmund – Mainz betting tip to find out whether BVB will give their home fans a premature present or whether Mainz will take home something worthwhile from Dortmund.
Dortmund once again fluffed their game and only managed a 1-1 draw in Augsburg. As a result, the gap to the Champions League qualification places for next season has grown further. BVB must be careful not to lose touch and absolutely need another win at Signal-Iduna Park before Christmas.
Dortmund also have a score to settle with Mainz, who missed out on the championship with a 2-2 draw on the final matchday of the previous season. Mainz also missed out on picking up important points in the relegation battle against a direct rival last weekend. They lost bitterly 1:0 to Heidenheim and thus remain at the bottom of the table
Dortmund – Mainz info
- Date & Time: 19.12.2023, 20:30 hrs.
- Playing venue: Signal-Iduna-Park, Dortmund
- Competition: Bundesliga, Matchday 16
- TV broadcast: Sky, Sat. 1
Dortmund Form & Balance Check
The 1:1 draw at FC Augsburg means BVB have now been winless for five competitive matches in a row. However, after consistently good performances in the league and Champions League, coach Edin Terzić’s team has not been able to keep it up on the pitch and too often fails to score in important games. In the last seven Bundesliga matches, the team has only won one, drawn three and come away empty-handed three times.
That is not enough if you want to live up to your own expectations of being a championship contender and Champions League qualifier. BVB are currently in fifth place, five points behind fourth place. BVB cannot afford to slip up again in the match against Mainz to prevent the gap from widening even further and perhaps even slipping down the table. SC Freiburg won on the last matchday and are breathing down Dortmund’s neck
Defense too faulty
One of Dortmund’s problems is their lack of stability at the back. The last time the Westphalians did not concede a goal was eight games ago. Since the 2-0 win against Newcastle at the beginning of November, BVB goalkeeper Gregor Kobel has had to make 13 saves to keep the ball out of the net.
Dortmund have conceded a total of 24 goals in the league so far, putting them in seventh place in the defensive statistics. However, coach Terzić has recently had to lament a number of absentees, both in defense and in defensive midfield. The return of Marius Wolf and Marcel Sabitzer provides some relief for Dortmund’s injured players
Dortmund facts & analysis
- Fifth place in the table
- Without a win in five games
- Last one draw and one defeat in the league
Mainz Form & Balance Check
FSV Mainz are disappointing this season. After 15 games, coach Jan Siewert’s team is in second-last place in the table. There is currently a four-way battle for the relegation places between Darmstadt, Cologne, Union Berlin and Mainz, all separated by a maximum of one point. Like BVB, Mainz have been without a win for five games and have only managed three draws.
The 1:0 home defeat against Heidenheim is particularly painful, as a win would have been extremely important for the mood within the team. If the team does not have a great day in Dortmund and surprisingly pull off a win, Mainz will end the winter in a relegation spot and must make the most of the break to recover and fully attack in January
Little danger
Mainzer are hardly posing any danger going forward at the moment. This is also shown by the goal statistics of one measly goal from the last five games. The best Mainz player in the Bundesliga’s top scorers list is currently Luxembourg’s Leandro Barreiro with two goals.
Mainz are therefore looking for an offensive system that produces more chances and capitalizes on games like last weekend against Heidenheim, when Mainz actually dominated. If nothing goes right offensively in Dortmund again, the situation could become uncomfortable for coach Jan Siewert, as he is currently not earning any points for a long-term position as head coach.
Mainz facts & analysis
- 17th place in the table
- Without a win in five games
- Only one goal scored in last five games
Predicted lineup – last update on December 19, 2023
BVB are still missing several players through injury. Among others, coach Terzić is still without Karim Adeyemi, Felix Nmecha and Julian Ryerson. Compared to the game in Augsburg, Wolf could move back to the right side of defense. We expect goalscorer Malen to be back in the starting eleven.
Mainz will play in a classic 4-4-2 system. Coach Sievert’s team could field a formation similar to the one against Heidenheim. Among others, Joshua Guilavogui, Andreas Hanche-Olsen and Maxim Leitsch are still missing. There is also a question mark over the Swiss duo of Edimilson Fernandes and Silvan Widmer
Dortmund – Mainz head-to-head & stats
The two clubs have already faced each other 34 times in a direct duel. BVB have won 20 games, while Mainz have only won five. Nine games have ended in draws, including the last encounter on the final matchday of the previous season, when Mainz drew 2-2 to spoil Dortmund’s championship hopes on the home straight. BVB supporters are likely to have painful memories of that for a long time to come. Mainz’s last victory was back in 2020
- Dortmund leads the overall standings
- The first meeting was in 2004
- Highest win was a 4-0 victory for Dortmund in 2019
