Borussia Dortmund vs Mainz 05: Bundesliga team news, preview

Borussia Dortmund will hope to exorcise the ghost of last season's Bundesliga finale as they take on Mainz 05 on Tuesday.

The final Bundesliga matchday of 2023 is upon us, and Borussia Dortmund will hope to spread the holiday cheer at home on Tuesday. Standing in their way will be Mainz 05, who played party poopers on their last visit to the Westfalenstadion.

Borussia Dortmund are still recovering from the scars of last season's Bundesliga finale, when they failed to get the three points they needed against Mainz 05 to win the Meisterschale for the first time since 2012.

A win against Mainz 05 on Tuesday would not only go a long way in helping heal those scars, but would also relieve some pressure on Edin Terzic. Borussia Dortmund have won just one of their last seven games in the Bundesliga, and their performances have left a lot to be desired.

The Black and Yellows will have to make do without a number of key players on Tuesday, including Felix Nmecha, Julian Ryerson, Karim Adeyemi, and Youssoufa Moukoko. Although Mats Hummels will return to the squad after serving a one-match suspension.

Mainz 05 are also reeling at the moment, and have won just one game in the Bundesliga this season. Interim coach Jan Siewert will hope to come back and haunt his former employers on Tuesday. The 05ers are set to be without Josuha Guilavogui, Robin Zentner, Maxim Leitsch, and Andreas Hanche-Olsen for the trip to BVB.

Borussia Dortmund vs Mainz 05: Expected Starting Lineups

Borussia Dortmund: Kobel - Süle, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini - Can, Reus, Brandt - Malen, Bynoe-Gittens - Füllkrug

Mainz 05: Batz - Da Costa, Van den Berg, Kohr, Mwene - Papela, Krauß - Gruda, Richter, Onisiwo - Ajorque