Verdict: DNB Mainz
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Eintracht Frankfurt welcome struggling Mainz hoping to consolidate their table position. The match will be played at a Deutsche Bank Park which is known to be packed with a loud atmosphere that pushes their favourites towards victory.
Eintracht Frankfurt
Frankfurt seem to be having a difficult season this term fighting hard both domestically and in Europe. The Bundesliga and Europa Conference League mixed results show that Frankfurt struggle to keep the high tempo required every 3 days. This is quite obvious if we look at Dino Toppmoller s team results. His side is riding a rollercoaster going from 7 games undefeated to 6 defeats in 7 matches. However, despite the clear inconsistency displayed this season by Frankfurt, The Eagles are well-positioned in the Bundesliga, 6 points from the top 4.
Only Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, and Dortmund had fewer defeats than Frankfurt in the Bundesliga this season. This proves the former German champions are a tough nut to crack, losing only 4 games from 18 played in Germany s top division. Deutsche Bank Park is a real fortress that even the giants of Bavaria, Bayern Munchen, failed to conquer. Frankfurt destroyed Kane Co with an incredible 5-1 win. Besides, scoring also 3 goals against Dortmund in a 3-3 thriller is a testimony that Toppmoller s players can go head-to-head with the Bundesliga s best.
Team News
Although Frankfurt has a short list of injured players, the hosts will struggle to line up their best 11 against Mainz due to the AFCON call-up. Sebastian Rode has been out since September with a calf injury. Timothy Chandler, the experienced right-back is also out since November 2023 suffering the same injury as Rode.
No less than 3 starters from the Frankfurt team had been called up for the national team duties at the Africa Cup of Nations tournament. Fares Chaibi, Ellyes Skhiri and Omar Marmoush will surely be missed by Toppmoller who will struggle to find replacements.
Mainz
The visitors are a disappointment this term being engaged in a difficult battle to avoid relegation. Mainz sits currently in the play-out position, 3 points from safety. Jan Siewert was appointed permanently as Mainz manager in late December 2023, after a convincing 7 games interim. The young German coach has an uphill battle to carry out, but the latest results are proving he is up for the challenge. Under his spell, The 05ers lost only 2 games in the Bundesliga. Heidenheim and Freiburg are the only sides who managed to pull in narrow wins (1-0) on Mainz s turf. If the defeat against Freiburg was somehow expected, 3 points lost against Heidenheim might prove to be decisive in the relegation battle.
The visitors don t fancy playing at Deutsche Bank Park after failing to win in their last 3 visits. The last time Mainz won 3 points on Frankfurt s ground was back in June 2020 after a convincing display (2-0). However, Jan Siewert and his team will need to do better this time considering Frankfurt s home results. Although Mainz picked up 5 draws in the last Bundesliga games played away, they still failed to get a win this season. Thanks to the good performance displayed at Dortmund (1-1), Mainz is hoping to crack the nut and get the first 3 points away from home.
Team News
Andreas Hanche-Olsen, the Norwegian centre-back has been out with an ankle injury since 15 September 2023. He is working towards recovery but has yet to train with the team. Nelson Weipper, the young prodigy centre forward is also out after suffering a knee injury.
Jae-sung Lee, the South Korean attacking midfielder has been called up by the national team. Edimilson Fernandes and Leandro Barreiro are one card away from being suspended.
Key factors to consider
Frankfurt has proved to be difficult to defeat at Deutsche Bank Park, winning against Bayern and drawing with Dortmund.
Dino Toppmoller s team is in top form suffering only one defeat in the last 5 Bundesliga matches (W3D1L).
The hosts scored at least one goal in each of their last 3 competitive games.
Mainz sits on a play-out position, 3 points from safety.
The visitors failed to win away in this season of the Bundesliga (D6L3).
Jan Siewert s team is struggling to find the back of the net scoring only 2 goals in the last 5 games.
Conclusion
Although on paper Frankfurt is the favourite team to win, the list of unavailable players can be decisive in their performance. Mainz displayed signs of improvement recently being undefeated in the last 5 games played on the road. It might just be the perfect opportunity for the visitors to get the 1st Bundesliga away win.
Verdict: DNB Mainz
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