As is the tradition in Germany, the Bundesliga action gets underway on a Friday night and this week Mainz welcome Eintracht Frankfurt to the OPEL Arena.
Mainz have established themselves in the Bundesliga, having won promotion back in 2008/09. They have enjoyed a highest placed finish of 5th, which they achieved just two seasons later but struggled last season, finishing in 15th place. If Mainz want to avoid being dragged towards the bottom of the table again this season, this is the sort of match they need to be winning. However, Eintracht Frankfurt’s form has picked up and they will be thinking about the maximum points themselves.
German Bundesliga – Coface Arena, Mainz Friday 27th October – 19:30 UK Time
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Draw Best Odd of: 11/5 at Ladbrokes |
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Mainz 05
Eintracht FrankfurtMainz scraped by in the DFB Pokal in mid-week and required extra-time to see off Holstein Kiel at home, who currently play in the 2.Bundesliga. Still, they eventually won the match, all be it with the added exertion of extra-time and have lost just 1 of their last 5 competitive games. The only defeat in those 5 games came at Schalke in the Bundesliga last weekend. Recent Bundesliga form has seen home wins against Hertha Berlin and Hamburg plus a draw at Wolfsburg. At home, Mainz have won 3 and lost 2 of their 5 league games this season, with the additional victory coming against Bayer Leverkusen and the other defeat coming against Hannover in the first match of the season. Mainz have scored in their last 4 home league games but have conceded in 6 of the last 7 at the OPEL Arena.
Eintracht Frankfurt Form
Eintracht Frankfurt come into this match sitting 7th in the Bundesliga table, just 2 points off Hoffenheim in 4th place and 1 point off Hannover, who occupy the final Europa League qualifying position in 6th place. Unlike Mainz, Eintracht Frankfurt had little problem in despatching lower league opposition in the DFB Pokal this week as they defeated Schweinfurt 4-0 away from home. That result means it is now 4 matches without defeat for Eintracht Frankfurt and they have won 3 of their last 4 games, with victories over Stuttgart and Hannover in the Bundesliga, the latter of which was a good away win. In the Bundesliga, Eintracht Frankfurt have recovered from a poor start to win 3 and draw 1 of their last 5 games. Away from home, Eintracht Frankfurt have lost only 1 of their 5 Bundesliga games this season, winning 3 and keeping 3 clean sheets.
Team News
Mainz are without Karim Onisiwo who is out with a shoulder injury until January. Rene Adler, Leon Balogun, Gerrit Holtmann and Niko Bungert face a race against time to be fit. Eintracht Frankfurt will travel without the injured quartet of Alexander Meier, Marco Fabian, Omar Mascarell and wing back Danny da Costa. However, central defender Simon Falette is available again following suspension.
Top Betting Tips
While Eintracht Frankfurt do not have a great record at Mainz, they have been in good form and this is probably their best chance of picking up a win at the OPEL Arena for some time. Eintracht Frankfurt are 9/5 to win the match with Ladbrokes. Both teams have been scoring goals in recent games, so it would no surprise to see each team find the back of the net in this match. Both teams to score is 10/11 with Ladbrokes. Sebastien Haller has been in excellent goal scoring form for Eintracht Frankfurt, netting 6 goals in his last 6 games. The Frenchman is 6/1 with Ladbrokes to score the first goal of the game.