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

The hosts, meanwhile, head into the weekend one point adrift of the Champions League qualification positions.

Match preview

Indeed, Leipzig went into the recent international break off the back of some disappointing results, with a 7-0 defeat to Manchester City in the Champions League sandwiched by away defeats to Borussia Dortmund and VfL Bochum in the Bundesliga.

However, Die Roten Bullen's home form since Marco Rose was appointed last September has generally been quite imperious, with the 46-year-old guiding his side to eight wins from 10 league games at Red Bull Arena.

As such, despite their forthcoming opponents' excellent form in more recent times, Leipzig should feel confident of dispatching Mainz this weekend. However, Rose's side are relying on a slip-up from either Union Berlin or Freiburg to clamber back into the top four positions.

With a home tie against Dortmund in the quarter-finals of the DFB-Pokal awaiting them later this week, Leipzig's season does not solely rest on qualifying for Europe's elite competition, even if Rose will clearly be determined to ensure that the club achieves that primary aim for the fifth successive campaign despite enduring a disastrous start to the season under his predecessor.

Mainz, meanwhile, are aiming to establish themselves as a solid top-half Bundesliga team under Bo Svensson, having finished eighth in the former Denmark international's first full season in charge last time around.

With a healthy six-point cushion ahead of Borussia Monchengladbach and Werder Bremen directly beneath them in the upper reaches of the bottom half of the table, Die Nullfunfer look well set to achieve that goal having collected an impressive 17 points from their last eight matches prior to the international break.

Indeed, four consecutive victories were backed up by successive 1-1 draws against Hertha Berlin and Freiburg, and it is likely that Svensson and his players would settle for a repeat scoreline in Leipzig this weekend.

However, a surprise win could see them leapfrog Wolfsburg and Bayer Leverkusen into seventh place depending on results elsewhere, of course, which is a position that could prove enough to qualify for next season's Europe Conference League.

RB Leipzig Bundesliga form:

L

W

W

L

W

L

RB Leipzig form (all competitions):

D

W

L

W

L

L

Mainz 05 Bundesliga form:

W

W

W

W

D

D

Team News

Leipzig appear likely to remain without Christopher Nkunku, whose hamstring injury saw the France forward miss out on appearing for his country during the international break. He could be passed fit to make the matchday squad against Dortmund on Wednesday, though.

Peter Gulasci's season has long been acknowledged to have come to an end due to an ACL injury, while Xaver Schlager and Yussuf Poulsen are set to miss the majority of April due to ligament and calf issues respectively.

Dani Olmo gained some crucial match fitness for Spain when scoring the opener against Norway and should start from the left flank, allowing Timo Werner to operate in more central areas alongside Andre Silva in attack.

Mainz, meanwhile, will remain without Jonathan Burkardt due to a serious knee injury. The talented 22-year-old has not featured since before the World Cup began in November, but he could return to action later this month.

Karim Onisiwo is also unlikely to start due to an ongoing knee issue himself, despite scoring a crucial injury-time equaliser against Freiburg in his side's last match.

Ludovic Ajorque will continue to lead the line with the close support of Marcus Ingvartsen and Lee Jae-sung, should Onisiwo be deemed unable to start for the visitors.

RB Leipzig possible starting lineup:

Blaswich; Henrichs, Orban, Gvardiol, Raum; Laimer, Haidara; Szoboszlai, Olmo; Silva, Werner

Mainz 05 possible starting lineup:

Zentner; Hanche-Olsen, Bell, Fernandes; Da Costa, Barreiro, Stach, Caci; Lee, Ingvartsen; Ajorque

We say: RB Leipzig 2-1 Mainz 05

Leipzig have been extremely consistent at the Red Bull Arena during Rose's tenure, and we expect them to deliver another home victory to potentially move into the top four on Saturday.

However, Mainz have proven tough to beat throughout the majority of Svensson's two-year reign, and this weekend's meeting with Die Roten Bullen should prove no different even if they may fall short in the end.

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