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

The round 15 encounter could see the hosts record only their second home success in 2023-24, while the away side await their first road triumph since gaining promotion.

Match preview

Mainz's shock 2-0 success over RB Leipzig in November has not been built on, with the second-bottom side failing to secure maximum points in the Bundesliga since that triumph.

That victory remains the 05ers' only win in 23-24, and they need maximum points on board to avoid losing their topflight status at the league's culmination next year.

Three draws in four have been the outcome after defeating Leipzig, pointing to a side that have found ways to avoid losses but one that struggles to find the back of the net.

This is underscored by Mainz scoring one goal in their recent four games, a 1-1 draw at Hoffenheim in late November, with none recorded in goalless fixtures with Darmstadt and Koln and a 1-0 defeat by Freiburg.

Jan Siewert is in charge of the club in an interim capacity until further notice, but the ex-Huddersfield Town boss needs to turn the tide in Rhineland-Palatinate.

They welcome a Heidenheim side still searching for maximum points on their travels since securing promotion, losing six of seven away fixtures.

Their solitary point came at Borussia Dortmund on September 1, but five straight losses have followed that point in North Rhine-Westphalia.

While Frank Schmidt's men have impressed in the club's first-ever Bundesliga campaign, the club from Southwest Germany must improve their leaky rearguard that has conceded at least twice in every away league fixture this season.

That should be the starting point for a club that has found the back of the net in three consecutive away matches (five in seven road fixtures), and it remains to be seen if they find the right balance on Saturday.

Having returned to winning ways with a characteristic 3-2 success over Darmstadt last weekend, the league's new boys seek consecutive triumphs for the first time in the top flight.

Mainz 05 Bundesliga form:

D

W

D

D

L

D

Mainz 05 form (all competitions):

L

W

D

D

L

D

Heidenheim Bundesliga form:

L

W

L

D

L

W

Heidenheim form (all competitions):

L

W

L

D

L

W

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Team News

Mainz are injury-hit, with several players absent for this weekend's encounter — Edimilson Fernandes (hip), Robin Zentner (finger), Joshua Guilavogui and Nelson Weiper (knee) are not expected back for round 15's fixture with Heidenheim, while Andreas Hanche-Olsen (ankle) and Maxim Leitsch (finger) are not predicted to return until 2024.

However, Karim Onisiwo may feature this weekend if he is passed fit after a recent illness, while Silvan Widmer's participation is touch-and-go.

Heidenheim's Elidon Qenaj and Thomas Keller are undoubtedly sidelined because of long-term ACL injuries, but Omar Traore and Lennard Maloney could return for this weekend's action.

The trio of Jan-Niklas Beste, Tim Kleindienst and Eren Dinkci have scored five Bundesliga goals each, making them the away side's possible match-winners this weekend.

Mainz 05 possible starting lineup:

Batz; Widmer, Caci, Berg, Mwene; Krauss, Barreiro; Jae-Sung, Gruda, Burkardt; Ajorque

Heidenheim possible starting lineup:

Muller; Traore, Mainka, Siersleben, Fohrenbach; Gimber, Beck; Pieringer, Dinkci, Beste; Kleindienst

We say: Mainz 05 2-1 Heidenheim

While a draw will not be surprising, Mainz could inflict another away loss on Heidenheim, whose next defeat on the road would be their seventh.

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