Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Mainz: probable line-ups, match stats and LIVE blog!

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Although Kostic may have gone two games without a goal or assist, he's still produced hauls of 10 points in both in Fantasy as Frankfurt recorded consecutive come-from-behind victories over Bayer Leverkusen (5-2) and then Borussia Mönchengladbach (3-2) this past week. It means Eintracht have won five of their last six Bundesliga fixtures, during which they also topped their UEFA Europa League group. The front three of Rafael Borre, Jesper Lindstrom and Daichi Kamada got the goals against Gladbach, so there should be little reason for Oliver Glasner to want to make changes there despite the busy final push before the end of the year. However, one change will have to be made after defender Tuta was sent off on Wednesday and will have to sit out this one. First-choice central midfielders Kristijan Jakic and Djibril Sow may also miss out due to a thigh problem and workload management respectively, as the Eagles look to continue their upward flight and overtake their nearest neighbours at the midpoint of the season.

Only once before have Mainz been higher in the table or had more points than they do this season after 16 matchdays. It's a remarkable return for the 05ers given they had won just one game at this stage last term, two matches into Bo Svensson's tenure. They come into this Rhine-Main derby on the back of a 4-0 victory at home to Hertha Berlin - their biggest win of the season and the Svensson era. That followed a seriously tight 2-1 loss at Bayern Munich, which showed just how far Mainz have come in 2021. Victory could see them spend the winter break in fourth place if results go their way, but conversely also as low as 10th, given how tight the Bundesliga table is right now. The Danish coach doesn't tend to tinker unnecessarily but may be forced to break up his 'Jonisiwo' strike partnership after Karim Onisiwo went off with an ankle problem against Hertha. That would see top scorer Jonathan Burkardt likely joined up top by Marcus Ingvartsen.

Match stats

Kostic has provided either a goal or assist in four of his last seven Bundesliga games. With three and six respectively this season, he's Frankfurt's dangerman-in-chief in the final third in 2021/22.

The Eagles are currently second only to Bayern in the form table, having taken 15 points with a goal difference of +7 across the last six matchdays. Bayern are one goal better off.

Borre scored just once in his first 10 Bundesliga outings, but now has three in his last six.

Burkardt is Mainz's leading scorer with seven this term, including six in his last nine.

Freiburg (15) are the only team to have conceded fewer goals than Mainz's 16 this term, while goalkeeper Robin Zentner has kept a joint-league-high six clean sheets.

Feast or famine: Mainz are yet to draw away from home this season (W2, L5).

Probable line-ups

Frankfurt: Trapp - Hinteregger, Hasebe, N'Dicka - Da Costa, Rode (c), Hrustic, Kostic - Lindstrom, Kamada - Borre

Out: Hauge (muscular), Lenz (muscular), Tuta (suspended)

Doubtful: Ilsanker (ill), Jakic (thigh)

Coach: Oliver Glasner

Mainz: Zentner - Bell, Hack, Niakhate (c) - Widmer, Barreiro, Stach, Martin - Boetius - Burkardt, Ingvartsen

Out: Lucoqui (knee), Kohr (thigh), St. Juste (shoulder), Szalai (neck)

Doubtful: Onisiwo (ankle)

Coach: Bo Svensson