Mainz vs Bayern Munich

Underperforming Bundesliga pacesetters Bayern Munich travel to the Mewa Arena to meet high-flying Mainz 05 in a ‘make or break’ league contest.

Since falling to a 2-1 loss at top-four-bidding Union Berlin at the start of February, Mainz have hit the ground running in the Bundesliga, stitching together nine straight matches without a defeat (W5, D4) to enter contention for a European finish. With only two points separating them from six-placed Bayer Leverkusen at the beginning of this round, ‘Die Nullfünfer’ are looking to maintain their 100% win ratio in home Bundesliga meetings with Bayern under current boss Bo Svensson (W2). Given the visitors’ off-field turmoil, it’s hard to put it past Mainz to become the first side in the Bundesliga to beat Bayern in three straight home league H2Hs since Schalke 04 between 2000-05 (5). Adding to this sentiment, Svensson’s men have picked up a league third-high 22 points in the second half of the season.

In the meantime, Bayern Munich waved goodbye to the Champions League in midweek despite holding Manchester City to a 1-1 home draw in the return leg of their blockbuster quarter-final tie. That result has left new manager Thomas Tuchel at only two wins in his first six matches in charge of the ‘Bavarians’ (D2, L2) but could still benefit Bayern’s bid to claim an 11th straight Bundesliga title. Without the distraction of European football, the record-time German champions can focus on improving an underwhelming four-game league form (W2, D1, L1). With second-placed Borussia Dortmund lagging only two points behind, the visitors head to Mainz aiming to defy their topsy-turvy away form that’s seen their last five Bundesliga fixtures on hostile turf fluctuate between wins (3) and losses (2).