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Bayern Munich Gear Up For Important Game Against Mainz

ByKiran Thakare|
Bayern Munich's Polish striker Robert Lewandowski (R) and Mainz's midfielder Niko Bungert (L) vie for the ball during the German first division Bundesliga football match of FC Bayern Munich v FSV Mainz 05 in Munich, on March 2, 2016. / AFP / CHRISTOF STACHE / RESTRICTIONS: DURING MATCH TIME: DFL RULES TO LIMIT THE ONLINE USAGE TO 15 PICTURES PER MATCH AND FORBID IMAGE SEQUENCES TO SIMULATE VIDEO. == RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE == FOR FURTHER QUERIES PLEASE CONTACT DFL DIRECTLY AT 49 69 650050 (Photo credit should read CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP/Getty Images)
Bayern Munich's Polish striker Robert Lewandowski (R) and Mainz's midfielder Niko Bungert (L) vie for the ball during the German first division Bundesliga football match of FC Bayern Munich v FSV Mainz 05 in Munich, on March 2, 2016. / AFP / CHRISTOF STACHE / RESTRICTIONS: DURING MATCH TIME: DFL RULES TO LIMIT THE ONLINE USAGE TO 15 PICTURES PER MATCH AND FORBID IMAGE SEQUENCES TO SIMULATE VIDEO. == RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE == FOR FURTHER QUERIES PLEASE CONTACT DFL DIRECTLY AT 49 69 650050 (Photo credit should read CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP/Getty Images)

Bayern Munich travel to Opel Arena in gameweek 13 to face Mainz with a chance to go on top in Bundesliga.

The German Champions will be looking to regain the form after a narrow 2-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen. Bayern Munich slipped to the second place after they were beaten by Borussia Dortmund after the international break.

Bayern have a good chance of putting pressure on RB Leipzig by gaining all the three points and go one place above them. The Bavarians have not been their usual self this term as they have dropped points at home and leaked goals throughout the campaign.

On the other hand Mainz are having a mixed season. The club from West Germany sit in the 9th position in the Bundesliga. They have been inconsistent and its difficult to predict which Mainz will turn up on the day as they are capable of upsets.

Team News-

Bayern Munich are suffering injury problems consistently this term. Carlo Ancelotti has numerous absentees for the game against Mainz. In defence Holger Badstuber is likely to miss the game due to illness. The German has regained complete fitness as he was involved in the game against FC Rostov last week.

Julian Green will be out due to injury while his fellow forward Kingsley Coman is sidelined for a longer period. The Italian admitted that midfieders Xabi Alonso and Arturo Vidal will be assessed before making a final call for the squad.

Predicted XI-

Manuel Neuer- David Alaba, Mats Hummels, Javi Martinez, Philipp Lahm- Thiago, Joshua Kimmich, Xabi Alonso- Franck Ribery, Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Muller

Opposition focus-

Mainz are known for playing with a high press and hurt teams on counter attack. Bayern have struggled against such profile of teams this season. They struggled against Dortmund and somehow got away from getting away with a embarassing scoreline .

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Mainz have scored considerable amount of goals this term, but have conceded the same number of goals too. Bayern need to be decisive in the final third and take their chances. Bayern will have to keep an eye Pablo De Blasis as has been the lethal attacker for Mainz. The Argentine has scored four goals in Bundesliga.

Prediction-

Bayern Munich 2-0 Mainz. The Bavarians will be boosted with a win over Levurkusen and their attack will be too much for Mainz to handle. Bayern have failed to convert chances recently but they will do enough to come back home victorious on Friday.

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