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

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Mainz's impressive start to the new season, following on from their remarkable escape in 2020/21 under Bo Svensson, has come unstuck in recent weeks. A 1-0 defeat at Bayer Leverkusen last time out makes it two games without a win for the 05ers - following a draw with Freiburg - who still sit pretty in sixth-place heading into this weekend. Mainz are the lowest scorers in the top half of the table with only six goals to their name, with Szalai among those to have found the net. The Hungary international won't be able to add to his scoring just yet with a knee injury keeping him sidelined for another week - Jonathan Burkardt leading the line instead with either and Karim Onsiwo or Marcus Ingvartsen for company. With captain Moussa Niakhate also out and defender Alexander Hack a doubt, Svensson is unlikely to tweak his squad too much, if at all.

Union bounced back from their first defeat of the season against Borussia Dortmund with a late 1-0 win over Arminia Bielefeld last Saturday. Kevin Behrens came on from the bench to provide the 88th-minute winner for Die Eisernen, who sit eighth in the table, just a single point behind their hosts this weekend. Urs Fischer will be forced into one change with Timo Baumgartl ruled out with a head injury, which should see Paul Jaeckel come into the three-man defence from the start. Otherwise, the capital club could restore Genki Haraguchi to midfield, with Grischa Prömel a candidate to make way.

Match stats

Six different players have scored for Mainz in this season's Bundesliga.

Ingvartsen is one of them. The Dane scored nine times in 68 competitive appearances for Union.

Svensson is ahead of predecessors Jürgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel for points per game, measured over his first 26 Bundesliga matches as head coach (1.65).

Taiwo Awoniyi's scored eight Bundesliga goals for Union, including a team-leading three this season. He netted his other during a loan stint at Mainz in 2019/20.

Kruse's produced six goals and two assists in 15 meetings with Mainz, including four combined in his last two.

Fischer will oversee his 75th Bundesliga match as Union head coach (W26, D22, L26).

Probable line-ups

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

Out: Niakhate (thigh), Szalai (knee)

Doubtful: Hack (not included)

Coach: Bo Svensson

Union: Luthe - Friedrich (c), Knoche, Jaeckel - Trimmel, Haraguchi, Khedira, Gießelmann - Kruse - Awoniyi, Voglsammer

Out: Baumgartl (concussion)

Doubtful: -

Coach: Urs Fischer