Mainz v Borussia Dortmund
15:00
Mainz are struggling to live up to the heights they reached last season when they finished up in 6th as they’ve picked up just one win in their last six and so are down in 11th. After their goalless draw at home to Koln, they’ve now failed to score in three of their last four, but they did at least keep their first clean sheet in eight. Dortmund, meanwhile, ended a run of three consecutive draws as they won 2-1 at Bremen to move up to 4th, though they’re 12 points off Bayern.
Mainz have lost their last five on the road but they’ve won four of their last six at home, with their only defeat in that run coming against Bayern. Indeed they’ve lost only seven of their 25 home games since the start of last season, beating Leverkusen, Schalke and Monchengladbach at the Opel Arena last term and as such they should prove tough for Dortmund to beat, particularly with Pierre Emerick Aubameyang still at the African Cup of Nations.
Even with the Gabonese featuring, Dortmund have managed only three away wins this term and those have all come at sides currently below Mainz in the table. They haven’t kept an away clean sheet and without Aubameyang they could struggle to outgun their hosts. We’re backing Mainz to pick up at least a point and continue their impressive home form.
