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Preview: Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Mainz 05 - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Bundesliga clash between Eintracht Frankfurt and Mainz 05, including team news and predicted lineups.

Eintracht Frankfurt will be looking to build on their good run of form and keep alive their outside top-six hopes when they host Mainz 05 on Saturday.

The hosts have won back-to-back matches to climb up to 11th, eight points off a Europa League qualifying berth, while Mainz are still at serious risk of being relegated after failing to win any of their last five league games.


Match preview

Eintracht Frankfurt players celebrate Stefan Ilsanker's goal against Werder Bremen on June 3, 2020© Reuters

Wednesday's 3-0 win over Werder Bremen was just the second time all season Frankfurt have won successive league games, all but ending any threat of relegation.

Adi Hutter's side are now seeking three wins in a row for the first time in 2019-20, having taken just one point from their previous six matches.

That poor run of form will ultimately cost them any hope of challenging for the top six, though victory this weekend and some favourable results elsewhere - namely Wolfsburg losing to Werder Bremen - could change all that.

However, Frankfurt are without a win in their last three home Bundesliga matches and have won only one of their last eight at Commerzbank-Arena.

Mainz have drawn their last two away games since football resumed in Germany, taking points off FC Koln and Union Berlin, but they are now winless in five games overall.

That is Karnevalsverein's longest wait for victory under Achim Beierlorzer, with their most recent victory coming against bottom side Paderborn in February.

Mainz duo Bote Baku and Pierre Kundu celebrate against Union Berlin on May 27, 2020© Reuters

Indeed, with 28 points from 29 matches, Mainz are enduring the second-worst season in their Bundesliga history. Only in 2017-18 have they been worse off at this stage, with 27 points.

Mainz have conceded 62 goals in their 29 matches, which is the joint-worst defensive record alongside Bremen.

Beierlorzer's side remain one point above Fortuna Dusseldorf in the final relegation playoff spot with five games to go, including trips to Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen.

Those tough upcoming fixtures make this trip to Frankfurt all the more important for Mainz, whose impressive recent record in this fixture does at least offer them some hope.

The visitors have won their last two league meetings with the Eagles - 2-0 and 2-1 - and have lost just one of the last six encounters.

Frankfurt's Bundesliga form: LLLDWW
Frankfurt's (all competitions): LLLDWW

Mainz's Bundesliga form: WDDLDL


Team News

Andre Silva playing for Sevilla in September 2018© Reuters

Frankfurt striker Andre Silva has scored in four of five Bundesliga games since the restart and has netted in each of the last three matches.

The AC Milan loanee is almost certain to lead the line for the hosts, then, but changes could be made elsewhere as Bas Dost is pushing for a recall after assisting a goal from the bench last time out.

Goncalo Paciencia remains sidelined for the Eagles, meanwhile, and Almamy Toure may be given a breather given the quick turnaround in fixtures since the restart.

As for Mainz, Ridle Baku is suspended, meaning that Daniel Brosinski may fill in at right-back.

Florian Muller saved a penalty against Hoffenheim and will continue to operate in goal due to Robin Zenter's injury absence.

Up the other end of the pitch, Jean-Philippe Mateta scored 14 goals last season but has just two in 2019-20.

Frankfurt possible starting lineup:
Trapp; Abraham, Hasebe, Hinteregger; Chandler, Ilsanker, Rode, Kostic; Kamada; Dost, Silva

Mainz possible starting lineup:
Muller; Brosinski, Bruma, Niakhate, Martin; Barreiro, Kunde; Awoniyi, Boetius, Quaison; Mateta


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We say: Frankfurt 2-0 Mainz

Mainz have failed to win any of their matches since returning to action last month and dropping 12 of the last 15 points on offer. They have the ability to grind out draws on their travels, but Frankfurt are on a high following back-to-back wins and we are backing them to prevail on Saturday.



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Written by
Daniel Lewis
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Bayern MunichBayern14103142123033
2Bayer LeverkusenB. Leverkusen1485132201229
3Eintracht FrankfurtFrankfurt1383233181527
4RB Leipzig137332114724
5Freiburg147342019124
6Mainz 05Mainz146442519622
7Werder Bremen146442224-222
8Wolfsburg146353125621
9Borussia DortmundDortmund136342420421
10Borussia MonchengladbachBorussia M'bach146352319421
11Stuttgart135532623320
12Union BerlinUnion Berlin144551315-217
13Augsburg144461627-1116
14Hoffenheim133461825-713
15St Pauli143291119-811
16Heidenheim133191728-1110
17Holstein Kiel1412111437-235
18VfL BochumVfL Bochum1403111135-243


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