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Mainz logo
Bundesliga | Gameweek 20
Feb 11, 2023 at 2.30pm UK
Coface Arena
Augsburg logo

Mainz
3 - 1
Augsburg

Jae-sung (21', 52'), Onisiwo (24')
Stach (34')
FT(HT: 2-1)
Demirovic (28' pen.)
Gumny (33')

Preview: Mainz 05 vs. Augsburg - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Bundesliga clash between Mainz 05 and Augsburg, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Mainz 05 and Augsburg are separated by just two points in the Bundesliga table ahead of their clash at the MEWA Arena on Saturday afternoon.

Hovering just outside the bottom three, both sides will be hungry to pick up a positive result and steer clear of the relegation battle.


Match preview

Mainz 05's Lee Jae-sung celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on January 25, 2023© Reuters

Mainz head into Saturday's clash on the back of a 2-1 defeat to title-chasing Union Berlin, meaning that they have lost three of their last four games in all competitions, with a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Bayern Munich coming in the DFB-Pokal last week.

When you look at the bigger picture, Mainz have only managed to win one of their previous nine outings, registering two draws and six losses in the process.

The 05ers made a bright start to the 2022-23 Bundesliga campaign, winning three of their opening five matches, but they have struggled for consistency since then, picking up three victories in their last 14 league encounters.

There is no hiding the fact that Bo Svensson's men need to up their game at the MEWA Arena, as they have managed to win just two of their nine home league matches this season, while only bottom club Schalke 04 have claimed fewer points at home.

That said, Mainz crushed Bochum 5-2 in their previous Bundesliga game at the MEWA Arena, with Karim Onisiwo netting a hat-trick, so they will fancy their chances of overcoming Augsburg.

Augsburg's Arne Maier celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on January 22, 2023© Reuters

Meanwhile, Augsburg secured an impressive 1-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen last time out, courtesy of Mergim Berisha's sixth Bundesliga goal since arriving on loan from Turkish club Fenerbahce.

It is worth noting that Berisha has now found the net in each of his last three league appearances, firing Augsburg to a 1-0 win against Borussia Monchengladbach before scoring in the 3-1 defeat to SC Freiburg a fortnight ago.

When Augsburg chalked up a nine-game winless run between October and January – registering three draws and six losses in the league – Enrico Maassen's job appeared to be in danger, but the 38-year-old manager has steadied the ship in recent weeks.

Still, Maassen will be desperate for his players to start finding the net more frequently, as only the bottom three sides in the division have scored fewer goals than Augsburg this term.

It is also worth pointing out that Augsburg have failed to win any of their last five away matches in the Bundesliga, suffering four defeats along the way, and they have also conceded at least two goals in each of their previous six away league outings.

Mainz 05 Bundesliga form:


Mainz 05 form (all competitions):


Augsburg Bundesliga form:


Team News

Mainz 05's Dominik Kohr receives medical attention after sustaining an injury on February 4, 2023© Reuters

Mainz goalkeeper Robin Zentner has missed the last four league games with a back injury, meaning that Finn Dahmen will continue to start between the sticks.

The hosts will also be without the injured trio of Silvan Widmer, Delano Burgzorg and Jonathan Burkardt this weekend, with the latter continuing to recover from knee surgery.

Following months on the sidelines, Marlon Mustapha returned to Mainz's matchday squad last time out, meaning that the forward could feature from the bench if required on Saturday.

Augsburg also have multiple injury problems, with Reece Oxford, Andre Hahn, Irvin Cardona, Ruben Vargas and Iago expected to miss the trip to Mainz.

On a brighter note, Tobias Strobl is close to returning to action following a lengthy ACL injury, having last featured for Augsburg all the way back in November 2021.

Mergim Berisha and Ermedin Demirovic have both bagged six goals and four assists in the league this season, so Demirovic will come straight back into the starting XI following his suspension.

Mainz 05 possible starting lineup:
Dahmen; Hanche-Olsen, Bell, Fernandes; Da Costa, Barreiro, Kohr, Caci; Onisiwo, Lee; Ajorque

Augsburg possible starting lineup:
Gikiewicz; Gummy, Gouweleeuw, Uduokhai, Pedersen; Maier, Engles, Rexhbecaj, Jensen; Demirovic, Berisha


SM words green background

We say: Mainz 05 1-1 Augsburg

While Mainz have struggled on home soil this season, Augsburg have found life difficult on the road of late, meaning that Saturday's clash is likely to be a relatively cagey affair.

Given that Mainz and Augsburg find themselves just a handful of points outside the drop zone, both sides will be happy to settle for a draw, preventing a relegation rival from winning in the process.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 2.5:data


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Game History

How you voted: Mainz vs Augsburg

Mainz 05
61.5%
Draw
26.9%
Augsburg
11.5%
26
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Bayern MunichBayern108203372626
2RB Leipzig106311551021
3Eintracht FrankfurtFrankfurt1062226161020
4Bayer LeverkusenB. Leverkusen104512116517
5Freiburg105231311217
6Union BerlinUnion Berlin1044298116
7Borussia DortmundDortmund105141818016
8Werder Bremen104331721-415
9Borussia MonchengladbachBorussia M'bach104241514114
10Mainz 05Mainz103431514113
11Stuttgart103431919013
12Wolfsburg103341918112
13Augsburg103341320-712
14Heidenheim103161315-210
15Hoffenheim102351319-69
16St Pauli10226712-58
17Holstein Kiel101271225-135
18VfL BochumVfL Bochum100281030-202


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