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

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Boetius goes into the season as one of Mainz's focal points in attack. The Dutchman had to fight for his place under Bo Svensson last year, but the 05ers' miracle worker looks like he now fancies the 27-year-old behind the front two of Adam Szalai and Jonathan Burkardt. Svensson achieved wonders after taking over in January, taking Mainz from relegation certainties with only seven points at the halfway stage to 12th after picking up even more points than Leipzig in the Rückrunde. The 05ers came through a nerve-jangling penalty shootout in the first round of the DFB Cup last weekend to beat fourth-tier Elversberg 8-7 after Burkardt had scored late equalisers in normal and then extra-time. Summer signing Anton Stach got both assists, but serves a league suspension carried over from his time with Greuther Fürth. Fellow newcomers Silvan Widmer and Anderson Lucoqui look to be the new duo in the wing-back roles, while Dominik Kohr remains on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt in central midfield.

While many players were away on holiday, Olmo had a seriously busy summer as he competed at UEFA Euro 2020 and then won silver at the Olympic Games in Tokyo with Spain. Although match fit, the 23-year-old has not had time to train under new head coach Jesse Marsch and isn't expected to start from the off quite just yet. That opens the door for both Christopher Nkunku and Emil Forsberg to play off new striker Andre Silva, who finished second in last season's Bundesliga scoring chart behind Robert Lewandowski on 28 goals. After two years under Julian Nagelsmann, the Marsch era got off to a strong start with a 4-0 cup win at Sandhausen, which also saw Dominik Szoboszlai score on his Leipzig debut from the bench - eight months after signing. American Tyler Adams could play alongside Kevin Kampl in midfield, while Mohamed Simakan is Willi Orban's new partner at centre-back after the departures of Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahima Konate.

Match stats

After Jean-Philippe Mateta and Robin Quaison, Karim Onisiwo was Mainz's next best for goals in 2020/21 with four. He was one of 16 different players to find the net.

Widmer featured in four of Switzerland's five Euro 2020 games this summer.

Svensson has a better record as Mainz head coach than esteemed predecessors Jürgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel (W9, D6, L5).

Silva has scored 40 goals in 57 Bundesliga appearances.

Forsberg, Nkunku and Marcel Sabitzer shared the lead at the top of Leipzig's scoring charts last season, with seven Bundesliga goals apiece, but Olmo had a direct hand in the most goals overall (five of his own, plus nine assists).

Leipzig have won six of their 10 Bundesliga meetings with Mainz, scoring more goals against the 05ers than any other club (33).

Probable line-ups

Mainz: Zentner - St. Juste, Bell, Niakhate (c) - Widmer, Barreiro, Kohr, Lucoqui - Boetius - Burkardt, Szalai

Out: Onisiwo (not included), Stach (suspended)

Doubtful: -

Coach: Bo Svensson

Leipzig: Gulacsi - Mukiele, Simakan, Orban, Angelino - Sabitzer (c), Kampl, Haidara - Forsberg - Silva, Nkunku

Out: Halstenberg (ankle), Henrichs (knee), Saracchi (knee), Sörloth (ill)

Doubtful: Lookman (knee)

Coach: Jesse Marsch