Bayern Munich can bounce back from Liverpool loss with win over Mainz

Bayern Munich will be keen to bounce back from their midweek Champions League elimination at the hands of Liverpool with a win over Mainz tomorrow.

Bayern Munich saw their Champions League hopes this season come to a disappointing end on Wednesday, when they were comfortably beaten by Liverpool at the Allianz Arena. This will be the first time in the last seven seasons that Bayern don’t participate in the Champions League quarterfinals.

Bayern cannot dwell on their poor midweek result for long, however, as they are still in contention for two domestic trophies. They have a chance to quickly bounce back from their defeat with a win over Mainz in the Bundesliga on Sunday.

The Bavarians are three points behind Borussia Dortmund (who defeated Hertha Berlin earlier today) at the top of the table after thrashing Wolfsburg last weekend. The defending champions have a slightly better goal differential than Borussia Dortmund and a game in hand, but they cannot afford a single poor result in the league from here on out. Niko Kovac will be hoping his players show some character and bounce back in an emphatic manner against Mainz to put some distance behind them and BVB at the top of the table.

Mainz, meanwhile, are enduring a torrid run of form. They are 13th in the league with a cushion of 11 points over the relegation positions. Sunday’s visitors are likely to stay in the Bundesliga this season unless they capitulate in the final nine games of the campaign. Mainz need to arrest this slump quickly, and getting a positive result against Bayern would be the perfect way for them to do it.

Team News

Arjen Robben began training on the pitch after suffering a calf injury last week. The Dutchman is not going to be fit for the game against Mainz, but he is likely to make his return after the international break. Thomas Muller and Joshua Kimmich will be back in the squad after missing out on Wednesday’s game due to suspension.

David Alaba played the complete game against Liverpool, but he is still struggling with a tendon problem. The Austrian is likely to undergo a fitness test just before the match. Corentin Tolisso is also entering the final phase of his lengthy recovery. The Frenchman is expected to play again soon after the international break.

Predicted XI

There will likely be some changes to Niko Kovac’s starting lineup on Saturday. Manuel Neuer committed an error in Liverpool’s first goal, but he is unlikely to miss the game against Mainz. Jerome Boateng will come back in central defense and pair up with Niklas Sule. Joshua Kimmich will slot in the right-back position while Rafinha is likely to replace Alaba on the left-hand side of defense.

Renato Sanches should get an opportunity in central midfield against Mainz. The Portuguese international is likely to occupy the number eight role in midfield. Javi Martinez was one of the few players who played well against Liverpool, and the Spaniard will continue to extend his run of games by featuring in the holding midfield role on Sunday.

James Rodriguez delivered an atrocious performance in the final third against Liverpool. This performance will surely demote him to the bench for weekend’s game. Thomas Muller is likely to be his replacement in the position. Robert Lewandowski will lead the line for the Bavarians, while Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry will play on either side of the three-man attack.

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Opposition Focus

Bayern Munich dominated the ball against Liverpool, but most of the possession was futile and they failed to create any notable chances. Liverpool hit Bayern hard in transition, so Mainz are likely to come up with a similar plan on Sunday. However, their lack of quality players will make it difficult for Mainz to get a good result like the Merseyside club.

Jean-Philippe Mateta will be the key player for the visitors. The Frenchman has been the top scorer for Mainz in the Bundesliga with seven goals. Karim Onisiwo is another attacking player that can trouble Bayern’s defense tomorrow. In the midfield, Robin Quaison is an important player for Mainz. The Swede has been in fine scoring form in the Bundesliga this season.

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Prediction

Bayern Munich 3-0 Mainz

Bayern were very poor against Liverpool on Wednesday. I expect a strong response from the players, who should deliver a convincing performance against Mainz. Moreover, Die Roten cannot afford to go into international break three points behind Borussia Dortmund.