Mainz vs Bayern Munich: Bundesliga Matchday 8 Preview

Bayern Munich travel to Mainz on matchday 8 of the Bundesliga. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
Bayern Munich travel to Mainz on matchday 8 of the Bundesliga. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
2 of 2
FSV Mainz 05 will desperately be looking for points when they play host to Bayern Munich on Saturday. (Photo by Ralf Ibing – firo sportphoto/Getty Images)
FSV Mainz 05 will desperately be looking for points when they play host to Bayern Munich on Saturday. (Photo by Ralf Ibing – firo sportphoto/Getty Images)

FSV Mainz 05

Bo Svensson welcomes Bayern into the MEWA Arena on Saturday, desperately looking for points. Currently sitting 17th in the Bundesliga standings, Mainz will be hopeful of another win like they did in April this year. However, this Mainz team will be a much different side when they welcome the defending champions than last year.

Robin Zentner will continue as the Mainz first-choice goalkeeper on Saturday despite having yet to keep a clean sheet in the current Bundesliga campaign. In front of Zentner, look for Liverpool loanee Sepp van den Berg to start as the right center back in the back three. Stefan Bell will start centrally with Swiss International Edimilson Fernandes starting as the left center back.

Danny da Costa should start as the right wingback for Mainz with the Frenchman Anthony Caci getting the start on the left side. Centrally, the young German Tom Kraub will continue to get a chance to impress following his transfer from Leipzig in the summer. He will partner with Leandro Barreiro in an effort to negate Bayern’s attack.

The Mainz attack will feature South Korean forward Lee Jae-sung and 19-year-old Brajan Gruda starting as the attacking mids. French big man Ludovic Ajorque will bring an aerial presence to the Mainz attack with his 6′ 5″ frame in the number nine position.

"Predicted Mainz Starting XI Zentner van den Berg-Bell-Fernandes da Costa-Krauß-Barreiro-Caci Jae-Gruda Ajorque"

Predicted Score

FSV Mainz 0-3 Bayern Munich (Harry Kane, Sane, Kim-Set Piece)

Bayern’s attack has been very ruthless in the first quarter of the season. With the defense hopefully starting to get in form, I think Bayern will create significant problems for Mainz’s struggling backline. Harry Kane and Leroy Sane will continue their scoring form. Kim Min-jae scored during the international break so I am backing him to get a goal from set piece on Saturday.