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

Returning to Bundesliga duty after the international break, champions Bayern Munich visit struggling Mainz 05 at MEWA Arena on Saturday.

While Bayern are, for once, not top of the table after the first seven matches, their bogey team Mainz have yet to win in the league this term.

Match preview

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Signing off for a fortnight with victory over Freiburg at Allianz Arena, two goals from Kingsley Coman helped Bayern Munich to a comfortable 3-0 result last time out, with Leroy Sane also scoring for the third league game in a row.

Having previously lost ground to both Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen with a second draw of the season, though, Bayern sit three points shy of top spot as they prepare for Saturday's evening kickoff.

Germany's perennial champions may have gone unbeaten through their first seven games for the first time in seven years, but they could find themselves five points down to Leverkusen before taking to the field, as Die Werkself play Wolfsburg a few hours earlier.

After spending several successful years at Mainz as head coach between 2009 and 2014, Thomas Tuchel now leads his current club back to his old stomping ground, with a Harry Kane-led front line promising to put an end to the Bavarian giants' woes away to Die Nullfunfer.

Following Coman's first two top-flight strikes of the season, Bayern boast the joint-best attack in the Bundesliga, averaging over three goals per game; meanwhile, Mainz have the joint-worst defence, with 19 goals conceded.

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The only reason for pessimism in the visitors' camp surely comes from a grim recent record at MEWA Arena, as they have lost each of their last three league matches there - a streak Mainz would love to continue this weekend.

In fact, that impressive sequence of successive home wins over Bayern Munich represents more victories than in Die Nullfunfer's previous 14 attempts combined.

Schalke were the last club to make it four on the spin versus Bayern, just after the turn of the century, and current Mainz coach Bo Svensson could now become the first manager to win all of his first four Bundesliga home games against them.

However, Svensson's side last won any top-flight fixture back in April - a shock 3-1 defeat of none other than Bayern - and they have lost nine of 12 league games since then.

As a result, Mainz have made their second-worst start to a Bundesliga season, and sitting on just two points from seven games following a 2-2 draw with Borussia Monchengladbach just before the break, they languish inside the relegation zone.

Team News

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Although Manuel Neuer has returned to full training, it is not thought that Bayern Munich's number one will displace deputy Sven Ulreich just yet, and the 37-year-old is more likely to be named on the bench.

Raphael Guerreiro (thigh) and Dayot Upamecano (hamstring) remain sidelined by injury for the visitors, while Serge Gnabry (arm) is still a doubt. However, captain Joshua Kimmich will hope to recover from an illness that saw him withdraw from Germany duty.

In Gnabry's absence, star striker Harry Kane should be supported by Leroy Sane - who already has six league goals this season, and more away from home than any other player (four) - and Kingsley Coman. The latter has been directly involved in six Bundesliga strikes against Mainz to date - four of his own and two assists.

Meanwhile, Thomas Tuchel may have to shuffle his back four again, as it remains to be seen how Noussair Mazraoui will be censured following his social media post regarding the Israel-Gaza conflict earlier this week - a suspension is expected. Bouna Sarr may therefore be called upon at right-back, or Konrad Laimer could deputise if required.

Mainz have also dealt firmly with Anwar El Ghazi, who has been indefinitely suspended by the club for a similar public statement to Mazraoui's.

In addition to the ex-Aston Villa winger, the home side will be without Jonathan Burkardt (knee) and Andreas Hanche-Olsen (ankle) due to injury, while Maxim Leitsch and Austrian striker Karim Onisiwo are doubtful.

With Onisiwo likely to miss out, Brajan Gruda is set to continue as part of Bo Svensson's forward line, following his goal against Gladbach last time out.

Mainz 05 possible starting lineup:

Zentner; Van den Berg, Bell, Fernandes; Da Costa, Barreiro, Kohr, Caci; Lee, Gruda; Ajorque

Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:

Ulreich; Laimer, Kim, De Ligt, Davies; Kimmich, Goretzka; Coman, Musiala, Sane; Kane

We say: Mainz 05 0-2 Bayern Munich

Even with half an eye on Tuesday's Champions League clash with Galatasaray, it should be a straightforward matter for Bayern Munich to halt their losing streak in Mainz this weekend. While the champions can score from all angles, their hosts have been awful at the back this term and cannot hope to keep Bayern at bay for a full 90 minutes.

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