MX23RW : Thursday, November 21 11:17:08| >> :120:54445:54445:
[monks data]
Leipzig logo
Bundesliga | Gameweek 26
Apr 1, 2023 at 2.30pm UK
Red Bull Arena
Mainz logo

RB Leipzig
0 - 3
Mainz


Kampl (37'), Olmo (65'), Orban (65')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Ingvartsen (9'), Ajorque (57'), Kohr (67')
Caci (61'), Ingvartsen (64'), Hanche-Olsen (65')

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

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

Mainz 05 will be looking to extend their six-match unbeaten run when they travel to RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga on Saturday.

The hosts, meanwhile, head into the weekend one point adrift of the Champions League qualification positions.


Match preview

RB Leipzig's Josko Gvardiol pictured during the warm up before the match on March 14, 2023© Reuters

Indeed, Leipzig went into the recent international break off the back of some disappointing results, with a 7-0 defeat to Manchester City in the Champions League sandwiched by away defeats to Borussia Dortmund and VfL Bochum in the Bundesliga.

However, Die Roten Bullen's home form since Marco Rose was appointed last September has generally been quite imperious, with the 46-year-old guiding his side to eight wins from 10 league games at Red Bull Arena.

As such, despite their forthcoming opponents' excellent form in more recent times, Leipzig should feel confident of dispatching Mainz this weekend. However, Rose's side are relying on a slip-up from either Union Berlin or Freiburg to clamber back into the top four positions.

With a home tie against Dortmund in the quarter-finals of the DFB-Pokal awaiting them later this week, Leipzig's season does not solely rest on qualifying for Europe's elite competition, even if Rose will clearly be determined to ensure that the club achieves that primary aim for the fifth successive campaign despite enduring a disastrous start to the season under his predecessor.

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

Mainz, meanwhile, are aiming to establish themselves as a solid top-half Bundesliga team under Bo Svensson, having finished eighth in the former Denmark international's first full season in charge last time around.

With a healthy six-point cushion ahead of Borussia Monchengladbach and Werder Bremen directly beneath them in the upper reaches of the bottom half of the table, Die Nullfunfer look well set to achieve that goal having collected an impressive 17 points from their last eight matches prior to the international break.

Indeed, four consecutive victories were backed up by successive 1-1 draws against Hertha Berlin and Freiburg, and it is likely that Svensson and his players would settle for a repeat scoreline in Leipzig this weekend.

However, a surprise win could see them leapfrog Wolfsburg and Bayer Leverkusen into seventh place depending on results elsewhere, of course, which is a position that could prove enough to qualify for next season's Europe Conference League.

RB Leipzig Bundesliga form:


RB Leipzig form (all competitions):


Mainz 05 Bundesliga form:


Team News

RB Leipzig's Emil Forsberg receives medical attention after sustaining an injury on February 25, 2023© Reuters

Leipzig appear likely to remain without Christopher Nkunku, whose hamstring injury saw the France forward miss out on appearing for his country during the international break. He could be passed fit to make the matchday squad against Dortmund on Wednesday, though.

Peter Gulasci's season has long been acknowledged to have come to an end due to an ACL injury, while Xaver Schlager and Yussuf Poulsen are set to miss the majority of April due to ligament and calf issues respectively.

Dani Olmo gained some crucial match fitness for Spain when scoring the opener against Norway and should start from the left flank, allowing Timo Werner to operate in more central areas alongside Andre Silva in attack.

Mainz, meanwhile, will remain without Jonathan Burkardt due to a serious knee injury. The talented 22-year-old has not featured since before the World Cup began in November, but he could return to action later this month.

Karim Onisiwo is also unlikely to start due to an ongoing knee issue himself, despite scoring a crucial injury-time equaliser against Freiburg in his side's last match.

Ludovic Ajorque will continue to lead the line with the close support of Marcus Ingvartsen and Lee Jae-sung, should Onisiwo be deemed unable to start for the visitors.

RB Leipzig possible starting lineup:
Blaswich; Henrichs, Orban, Gvardiol, Raum; Laimer, Haidara; Szoboszlai, Olmo; Silva, Werner

Mainz 05 possible starting lineup:
Zentner; Hanche-Olsen, Bell, Fernandes; Da Costa, Barreiro, Stach, Caci; Lee, Ingvartsen; Ajorque


SM words green background

We say: RB Leipzig 2-1 Mainz 05

Leipzig have been extremely consistent at the Red Bull Arena during Rose's tenure, and we expect them to deliver another home victory to potentially move into the top four on Saturday.

However, Mainz have proven tough to beat throughout the majority of Svensson's two-year reign, and this weekend's meeting with Die Roten Bullen should prove no different even if they may fall short in the end.



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 a home win 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.Home Win:data


ID:510195:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect12441:

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Game History

How you voted: RB Leipzig vs Mainz

RB Leipzig
86.7%
Draw
10.0%
Mainz 05
3.3%
60
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
RB Leipzig and Spain attacker Dani Olmo pictured in November 2022
Read Next:
Barcelona 'urge Dani Olmo not to renew RB Leipzig deal'
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
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


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!