Mainz vs. Arminia Bielefeld: probable line-ups, match stats and LIVE blog

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Mainz went toe-to-toe with Borussia Dortmund in their rearranged Matchday 25 fixture on Wednesday. Despite not having played competitively for 18 days, the mid-table 05ers were three minutes from getting a positive result. Bo Svensson's side still have the best home defence in the division with only eight goals conceded in 13 games at their MEWA Arena, where they have won eight times this season. The 117-year-old club also recorded a 3-2 victory over Arminia on their own patch in the DFB Cup second round. Aaron Martin is set to be recalled at left-wing-back, with defender Alexander Hack and midfielder Dominik Kohr also available again following suspension. Midfielder Anton Stach serves a mandatory one-match ban, though, due to an accumulation of yellow cards.

Okugawa was among the goals as Arminia - beaten by Mainz just days earlier in the league - exited the DFB Cup to the same opposition. It's one of a team-leading nine goals scored by the Japanese playmaker, who also has a couple of assists to show for his efforts so far this term. Bielefeld's last win came by way of an Okugawa strike - against Union Berlin on Matchday 23. They've since suffered successive defeats to Bayer Leverkusen, Augsburg and Dortmund, falling to within two points of the relegation play-off place, occupied by an improving VfB Stuttgart, as a result. The suspended Cedric Brunner joins the raft of first-team members who are unavailable. Defensive midfielder Manuel Prietl could be the man to moonlight on the right-hand side of an already patchwork defence.

Match stats

Jonathan Burkardt has already scored two goals in as many meetings with Bielefeld this season (Bundesliga and DFB Cup).

Mainz have conceded a league-low eight goals at home this season.

The 05ers have collected 27 points in front of their own fans, compared to seven away.

Okugawa is the Japanese player with the most single-season Bundesliga goals (eight) since Shinji Kagawa hit nine for Dortmund in 2015/16.

Bielefeld have lost three successive Bundesliga games for the first time under Kramer. They've also lost their last three on the road without scoring.

What's more, Arminia are winless in five competitive games on Mainz soil, dating back to 29 March 2004.

Probable line-ups

Mainz: Zentner - Bell, Hack, Niakhate (c) - Widmer, Barreiro, Kohr, Martin - Lee - Onisiwo, Burkardt

Out: Burgzorg (heart), Dahmen (ankle), Stach (suspended), St. Juste (shoulder), Tauer (concussion)

Doubtful: -

Coach: Bo Svensson

Bielefeld: Ortega (c) - Prietl, Pieper, Andrade, Bello - Schöpf, Vasiliadis - Wimmer, Okugawa, Hack - Lasme

Out: Brunner (suspended)

Doubtful: Castro (not included), de Medina (not included), Krüger (not included), Kunze (not included), Laursen (not included), Nilsson (not included), Ramos (not included), Serra (not included)

Coach: Frank Kramer