Preview: Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Mainz 05 - prediction, team news, lineups

This will see Mainz return to action after their clash with Union Berlin was postponed as below-freezing temperatures swept through Germany last week.

Match preview

Frankfurt may have wished that their fixture away to Darmstadt last time out was called off too, as they blew a two-goal lead to only draw with the league's bottom side.

A 95th-minute strike from Christoph Klarer saw Dino Toppmoller's side squander two points at the death, just a week after a superb win away to RB Leipzig.

That saw them fail to take advantage of Leipzig losing again this weekend, only gaining one point on the top four, while Borussia Dortmund moved five points clear of them in fifth.

Frankfurt remain sixth with 28 points, and Freiburg are also now breathing down their neck with only goal difference separating the sides heading into the weekend's action.

A 3-0 win over Mainz late last season aided Frankfurt's push for Europe greatly, as they eventually reached the Europa Conference League, and a repeat of that scoreline would help in replicating that feat this time around.

Mainz were up near the European places last season, but avoiding relegation is the target this season after a poor opening half of the season.

With all three sides in the relegation zone now level on points thanks to Darmstadt's draw last weekend, only goal difference is currently keeping Mainz out of the automatic places.

Luckily for Mainz, as their game was called off, Koln could not take advantage, suffering a humbling 4-0 defeat at home to Dortmund last weekend, keeping them below Jan Siewert's side.

The visitors must start winning games though, otherwise it will not be long before they find themselves in the bottom two.

A start to the campaign which saw Mainz fail to win any of their opening nine games contributed to Bo Svensson's departure.

Siewert beat Leipzig in his first game in charge, but that remains their only win this season, as the following seven games have produced five draws and two defeats.

Two of those draws came against Koln and Darmstadt, as they missed the opportunity to gain significant ground on the two sides below them, as their 15-year stay in the Bundesliga remains under threat.

Eintracht Frankfurt Bundesliga form:

L

W

L

W

W

D

Eintracht Frankfurt form (all competitions):

W

L

L

W

W

D

Mainz 05 Bundesliga form:

D

L

D

L

D

D

Mainz 05 form (all competitions):

L

D

L

D

W

D

Team News

Frankfurt are currently without their two starting strikers, as Fares Chaibi and Omar Marmoush are both away at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Sasa Kalajdzic has recently arrived on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers, just 18 months after leaving the Bundesliga, but after providing an assist on his second start last weekend, he is now doubtful with a leg injury, potentially leaving the hosts short up front.

Despite Ellyes Skhiri also being away at AFCON, Frankfurt have allowed Kristijan Jakic to join Augsburg on loan, with Donny van de Beek coming in and starting twice in midfield since his switch from Manchester United.

Visitors Mainz have also allowed a midfield option to leave on loan, as Aymen Barkok joined Hertha Berlin last week.

Josuha Guilavogui's return from injury should provide ample cover, but Jae-sung Lee is still away on Asian Cup duty with South Korea.

On the injury front, Stefan Bell may return after being struck down by a virus over the past two weeks, but Nelson Weiper remains out following knee surgery.

Eintracht Frankfurt possible starting lineup:

Trapp; Tuta, Koch, Pacho; Dina Ebimbe, Larsson, Gotze, Nkounkou; Knauff, Van de Beek, Ngamkam

Mainz 05 possible starting lineup:

Zentner; Fernandes, Van den Berg, Caci; Widmer, Kohr, Krauss, Barreiro Martins, Mwene; Onisiwo, Burkardt

We say: Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 Mainz 05

Frankfurt's slip-up last weekend shows they may find it tougher to retain a spot in Europe again this season, and could find it difficult despite coming into the game as favourites.

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