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

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Szalai has missed his club's last three league games, all of which have ended in defeat, with the former Real Madrid youth academy prospect nursing a knee injury. "It was expected that Adam would need three weeks minimum, but perhaps he ticks a little differently," said coach Bo Svensson, who noted Szalai's progress was "very positive". Mauled by an Erling Haaland-inspired Borussia Dortmund last time out, Svensson's men have seen the credit built by one defeat in their opening five matches seep away as they have slipped into the bottom half of the table. Svensson will definitely be without Jeremiah St. Juste, who requires surgery on his dislocated shoulder, as he prepares for the game and the DFB Cup-Bundesliga double-header with Arminia Bielefeld that follows.

Bielefeld scored a sensational equaliser through Jacob Laursen last Sunday to salvage a draw at Augsburg. The hosts could console themselves with at least having brought a two-match losing run to a halt, but the draw meant they remain third-from-bottom of the table and failed to extend the one-point advantage they have in hand over their Matchday 8 opponents, one place below them in an automatic relegation spot. Markus Weinzierl remains without forward Florian Niederlechner, though there is better news for Alfred Finnbogason. Dogged first by a knee injury and then Achilles tendon problems, the Iceland international came off the bench to get five minutes — his first of the 2021/22 season — on the pitch against Bielefeld, and though he is unlikely to start, he should again feature.

Match stats

Szalai has five goals and three assists in his 13 league outings against Augsburg to date, winning seven and drawing two of those.

Mainz forward Jonathan Burkardt is set to make his 50th Bundesliga appearance here.

Neither Mainz nor Augsburg have conceded a goal from a set-piece this season.

Oxford scored his maiden Bundesliga goal last week in what was his 58th league appearance.

Augsburg have won each of their last five Bundesliga assignments against Mainz, their longest such streak against any current top-flight team.

Victory here would take Weinzierl to 50 Bundesliga wins as Augsburg coach, coming in his 166th game in charge of the club.

Probable line-ups

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

Out: St. Juste (shoulder)

Doubtful: Szalai (knee)

Coach: Bo Svensson

Augsburg: Gikiewicz - Gumny, Gouweleeuw (c), Oxford - Caligiuri, Maier, Dorsch, Iago - Vargas - Hahn, Zeqiri

Out: Niederlechner (groin), Uduokhai (muscular)

Doubtful: Jensen (ill)

Coach: Markus Weinzierl