Mainz 05 vs Borussia Dortmund: Bundesliga Team News, Preview, Lineups
By Tushar Bahl
Borussia Dortmund will hope to snap their three-game winless run against Mainz 05 when the two sides face off in the Bundesliga this weekend.
After two crucial wins at home, the momentum is back on Borussia Dortmund's side ahead of their away game against Mainz 05 this weekend. The Black and Yellows have yet to win away from home in the Bundesliga this season, and will be desperate to change that going into the international break.
But BVB's recent woes against Mainz have been well documented, and Nuri Sahin will be determined to get the better of the 05ers on Saturday afternoon. Not only did Borussia Dortmund fail to defeat Mainz last year in a game that could have seen them win the Bundesliga title, but they also fell to a 3-0 defeat on their last visit to the MEWA Arena (in May).
Mainz have since lost Brajan Gruda, which has certainly had an impact on the threat they pose in attack. Still, they have made a decent start to the season and will hope to hand Borussia Dortmund another blow on Saturday.
Jonathan Burkardt has made an impressive start to the season, with five goals to his name in nine Bundesliga appearances. He was even rewarded with a maiden Germany call-up last month. Moritz Jenz and Andreas Hanche-Olsen will both miss Saturday's game for Mainz.
Borussia Dortmund have a host of injury issues in their ranks, and the hope will be that a few players can return in time for the trip to Mainz. Waldemar Anton, Gregor Kobel, Julian Ryerson, and Yan Couto could potentially come into the squad. Although Ramy Bensebaini will miss Saturday's game through suspension.
Serhou Guirassy will once again be key for Borussia Dortmund, while Donyell Malen will push for a spot in the starting XI after scoring the winner off the bench against Sturm Graz on Tuesday.
Mainz 05 vs Borussia Dortmund: Predicted Lineups
Mainz 05: Zentner - Kohr, Bell, Leitsch - Caci, Sano, Amiri, Mwene - Nebel, Lee - Burkardt
Borussia Dortmund: Meyer - Couto, Anton, Schlotterbeck, Groß - Can, Nmecha - Malen, Brandt, Beier - Guirassy
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