Borussia Dortmund v 1. FSV Mainz preview: Mid-table BVB host shock Champions League hopefuls
Borussia Dortmund
After profitable back-to-back league video games for the primary time this season, Dortmund misplaced to Augsburg and Leipzig with out discovering the web in each video games. Niko Kovac’s facet is now ten factors adrift of a Champions League spot, though they may nonetheless qualify by profitable this season’s version.
Their away kind was the problem within the Hinrunde, however additionally they began to wrestle at dwelling in 2025. From their final three video games at Westfalenstadion (Sign Iduna Park), Dortmund misplaced to Stuttgart and Augsburg.
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Earlier than the primary leg of their Champions League tie towards LaLiga table-toppers Barcelona, the Black and Yellows will hope for a return to the highest half of the Bundesliga standings by beating this season’s shock packages – Mainz and Freiburg.
Nonetheless, they’re winless of their final 4 video games towards the 05ers. And, it began with one of many worst video games in Dortmund’s total historical past: a 2-2 draw within the 2022-23 season finale that denied them the Meisterschale.
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Kovac confirmed that each one his worldwide gamers returned to the staff wholesome. In the meantime, January signings Carney Chukwuemeka and Daniel Svensson are again within the squad after recovering from their respective accidents. Salih Özcan and Waldemar Anton are candidates to make up for the absences of Felix Nmecha and Marcel Sabitzer in Dortmund’s midfield.
Mainz 05
A 2-2 draw towards Freiburg put an finish to Mainz’s four-game profitable streak, however they nonetheless sit third within the desk with solely eight video games left to play. The 2016-17 Europa League marketing campaign is the one time the carnival metropolis membership participated within the group stage of a continental competitors.
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Martin Schmidt was the coach again then, and he performed an enormous half in appointing Bo Henriksen because the sports activities director in the midst of the season final time period. The Danish coach first averted relegation by solely shedding two video games within the last 13 rounds earlier than going large this season.
A convincing 3-0 win over Dortmund was an enormous think about securing survival. And, they did it once more when the 2 groups met in Mainz on matchday 10 with a 3-1 victory. Whereas Jonathan Burkardt takes middle stage with 15 objectives, their stingy protection was equally spectacular as they solely conceded 28 objectives.
With video games towards Bayern Munich, Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayer Leverkusen nonetheless within the fixture checklist, Mainz nonetheless have an terrible lot to do to appreciate their dream of qualifying for the Champions League. As time is operating out for Dortmund, Sunday’s check may even be an enormous ask for Henriksen’s boys.
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Henriksen known as Burkardt an “absolute machine” in his pre-match press convention because the German worldwide returns to full health. Phillipp Mwene and Dominik Kohr are each suspended, whereas Stefan Bell has been out injured because the finish of January.