Borussia Dortmund will look to extend their unbeaten run in the Bundesliga since the winter break as they prepare to host FSV Mainz at the weekend.
The reigning German champions have achieved maximum points since coming back from the winter break and will be looking to continue their run against the inconsistent Mainz side. On the other hand, the visitors will be looking to
push their way into the top-half of the table by depriving Dortmund of all three points at the Signal Iduna Park on Saturday, March 03.
Borussia Dortmund
The Borussians are currently leading the Bundesliga standings with 52 points from 23 games and a win over the O-Fives at the weekend will maintain their lead at the top of the table. Jurgen Klopp’s men have been phenomenal so far
this season and posses the best defence alongside Borussia Monchengladbach.
The Black Yellows have been consistent throughout the season and have lost only three games all season. The only thing that stands against the hosts is that they have not beaten Mainz at home for almost seven years.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/1-FSV-Mainz-05-c38166
Thomas Tuchel’s men have been inconsistent throughout the season and even a draw against Dortmund will be acceptable at this stage of the campaign. It seems highly unlikely that the visitors will emerge on top but the three points
will put them in the top-half of the table and also in contention for a place in the UEFA Europa League.
The Coface Arena outfit have been unbeaten in the past five games and Tuchel would ideally want to continue this streak for a better finish to the season. Mainz have only beaten Dortmund once in their last five outings which was
way back in April 2010.
Team News
Borussia Dortmund
The home team will be without the services of Mario Gotze and skipper, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Sebastian-Kehl-c32732. Gotze is still recovering from his groin injury and will require further two weeks to return to full fitness while Kehl is suspended for the
game after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lucas-Barrios-c22533 will again be left on the bench as has been the pattern so far.
Mainz
Tuchel will be without his defender, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Bo-Svensson-c7718
will also be unavailable for the game due to injuries.
However, the player who has turned the club’s fortunes since his arrival from Dortmund, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ádám-Szalai-c3557.
Players to Watch
Robert Lewandowski will certainly be the man to watch from the home side. The striker has been in ominous scoring form this season with 16 goals from 23 league appearances and Dortmund will heavily rely on his finishing abilities
to achieve maximum points at home.
Zidan has taken no time to settle down at the Coface Arena and will be up against the side he was playing for two months ago. Having already scored four goals from his four league appearances so far, Mainz will definitely look
at him to help them upset Dortmund away from home.
Prediction
The reigning German champions have lost only once at home and have won nine of the 11 games played at Signal Iduna Park this season. The Borussians look all set to come out on top against the Carnival Club by at least a 3-1 margin.
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