Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Bundesliga match.
A victory over Heidenheim (3:2) last Saturday has postponed Gerardo Seoane's potential departure from Borussia M'gladbach. However, the Swiss manager will face pressure once again with an away game against Mainz, especially as the injury issues provide their opponents with more attacking opportunities.
Mainz 05
Across the first seven rounds of the German championship, Mainz have collected a respectable eight points, sitting four points clear of the relegation playoff zone. After a decisive win against St. Pauli (3:0), the team tried to challenge RB Leipzig (0:2), but were unsuccessful (16-11 in shots and 0.47 vs 1.98 xG). Bo Henriksen welcomes the return of starting midfielder Dominik Kohr after suspension, enabling Nadiem Amiri and other attackers to press higher—though they often become attack-minded.
Borussia M'gladbach
In October, both of Borussia's Bundesliga clashes featured three or more goals (three instances in the last five rounds). At home against Heidenheim, they played boldly: after the break, Tim Kleindienst clinched victory, scoring twice, and the team accumulated 4.15 xG—the highest among all teams in the round. Gerardo Seoane's problem might be the series of injuries in his defensive line, with Luca Netz, Nico Elvedi, and both starting goalkeepers—Jan Olschowsky and Jonas Omlin—out.
Mainz 05 vs Borussia M'gladbach Prediction
In the past year and a half, Mainz and Borussia M'gladbach have scored over 2.5 goals in two of their three meetings. Most likely, these mid-table teams will open the round with an exciting clash featuring dangerous attacks.
