Preview: Mainz 05 vs. Borussia Dortmund - prediction, team news, lineups

Mainz, meanwhile, can secure their survival by avoiding defeat, but in truth they should already have enough points on the board following a fine run of form.

Match preview

Indeed, Bo Svensson has performed miracles since taking over as Mainz's manager in January, with the 41-year-old guiding Die Nullfunfer to 30 points from his 18 matches in charge to take them away from danger in the process.

When the Bundesliga paused for its winter break in late December, the automatic relegation places looked all but sown up, with Mainz stranded in the bottom two alongside Schalke 04, who have remained there ever since.

Mainz's improvement was illustrated by an impressive 1-1 draw away to high-flying Frankfurt last weekend, with only Ajdin Hrustic's late equaliser denying Svensson's side another fine victory after Karim Onisiwo's 11th-minute opener.

However, the share of the spoils extended Mainz's unbeaten run to a phenomenal nine matches, which is in stark contrast to when they lost each of their opening six games of the season. Should that run continue on Sunday, their survival will be confirmed due to the fact that Augsburg and Werder Bremen play against each other and therefore cannot both reach 37 points.

Mainz's draw last time out was a result which hugely benefitted Dortmund, too, as it allowed Edin Terzic's side to leapfrog Frankfurt into fourth place in the table after their dramatic 3-2 win against RB Leipzig last weekend.

BVB produced a fine performance to finally end Julian Nagelsmann's side's slim hopes of chasing down league leaders Bayern Munich, with Marco Reus and Jadon Sancho turning on the style to provide their side with a two-goal lead either side of the break.

However, Die Roten Bullen levelled the proceedings via strikes from Lukas Klostermann and Dani Olmo, before Sancho had the last laugh by applying the finishing touch to Raphael Guerreiro's unselfish cut-back to seal an 87th-minute winner.

The England winger was in fine fettle once again in midweek, too, as Terzic became the fifth coach to guide Dortmund to a fifth DFB-Pokal title after a 4-1 win against Leipzig in the final at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.

Sancho and Erling Braut Haaland both scored braces as Nagelsmann's side had few answers to BVB's breathtaking attacking firepower for the second time in the space of six days.

Terzic must quickly return his attention to league matters, however, with Dortmund's fate regarding their place in next season's Champions League now in their own hands for the first time in several weeks.

Indeed, two wins will guarantee their place at Europe's top table next season, but securing three points will not be easy against in-form Mainz on Sunday, particularly if Terzic's side are understandably fatigued events of Thursday night in Berlin.

Mainz 05 Bundesliga form:

Borussia Dortmund Bundesliga form:

Borussia Dortmund form (all competitions):

Team News

Mainz's only injury concern appears to be Luca Kilian's hip complaint, with Svensson otherwise having a clean bill of health to choose from.

The 41-year-old may bring Danny Latza or Jean-Paul Boetius into his side in place of one of the three forwards who started against Frankfurt, with providing more midfield solidity against an expansive Dortmund outfit likely to be on the agenda.

Haaland and Mahmoud Dahoud both shook off recent knocks to start in the DFB-Pokal final on Thursday, so should be fit and available to do so again if called upon on Sunday.

Thomas Delaney could start in midfield in order to allow Dahoud a rest, though, with Thorgan Hazard likely to come into the attack, too.

BVB lost goalkeeper Marwin Hitz to a season-ending knee injury during the league win against Leipzig, so Roman Burki will continue between the posts.

Like Hitz, Mateu Morey, Youssoufa Moukoko, Dan-Axel Zagadou, Axel Witsel and Marcel Schmelzer have all been ruled out for the rest of the campaign.

Mainz 05 possible starting lineup:

Zentner; St Juste, Hack, Niakhate; Da Costa, Barreiro, Boetius, Kohr, Mwene; Quaison, Onisiwo

Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:

Burki; Meunier, Akanji, Hummels, Guerreiro; Bellingham, Delaney; Hazard, Reus, Sancho; Haaland

We say: Mainz 05 1-2 Borussia Dortmund

Dortmund have found their stride at precisely the right moment in the season, so we can envisage Mainz's unbeaten record narrowly coming to an end on Sunday.

BVB could be fatigued after Thursday night's DFB-Pokal final win against Leipzig, though, so it would be little surprise if Svensson's side punish them given the form they have been in of late.