On November 9 at 22:30 China Time, in the 10th round of the Bundesliga, Mainz will host Dortmund at the Mewa Arena.
In the 9th round of the Bundesliga on November 3, Mainz played to a goalless draw with Freiburg away. The team’s attacking performance was less than ideal, with almost no decent chances in the second half of the match. They only managed two shots on target, both occurring between the 50th and 60th minutes. However, under the guidance of Danish coach Bo Henriksen, Mainz has temporarily escaped the relegation struggle that plagued them last season. Last season, the team had only three points after the first nine rounds, and former head coach Bo Svensson struggled to find solutions.
Currently, in the Bundesliga standings, Mainz is ranked 13th with 2 wins, 4 draws, and 3 losses, holding a two-point lead over the relegation zone. This is similar to last season when they secured their top-flight status by a two-point margin. However, in five home league matches this season, Mainz has only managed 2 draws and 3 losses, and they have yet to win at home (including a 0-4 loss to Bayern Munich in the DFB-Pokal). However, in their last home league match, Mainz showed signs of improvement by forcing a 1-1 draw with Gladbach thanks to an own goal from the opposition, ending their three-match losing streak at home.
In terms of team selection, Mainz will be without center-backs Olsench and Jantschek until late November, and Austrian striker Onisiwo is also out due to a muscle injury. However, Mainz has 24-year-old international Burkardt (9 goals in 5 appearances) as an offensive support, which still provides strong firepower upfront.
Dortmund defeated RB Leipzig 2-1 at home on November 3, with substitute attacker Bayer contributing one goal and one assist, helping Dortmund secure their sixth consecutive home win of the season. In the midweek Champions League match, Dortmund won 1-0 against Graz Storm with a goal from substitute Malen, achieving their seventh consecutive home win and making Signal Iduna Park a true fortress. After two consecutive victories, Dortmund’s head coach Nuri Şahin’s position has become more stable, and the team’s recent decline in competitiveness has been attributed to numerous injuries and an incomplete squad.
Currently, in the Bundesliga standings, Dortmund is ranked 6th with 5 wins, 1 draw, and 3 losses. Due to Freiburg earning a point in this round, Dortmund is temporarily outside the Champions League qualification spots before their match. In four away league matches this season, Dortmund has only managed 1 draw and 3 losses, suffering defeats against struggling teams like Augsburg and Union Berlin, indicating poor defensive performance. However, in this away match against Mainz, Dortmund not only aims to end their poor run but also to erase the shame of being held to a draw by Mainz in the final round of the 22/23 season, which cost them the Bundesliga title. Additionally, Dortmund suffered a 0-3 defeat to Mainz in the penultimate round last season, helping their opponents secure safety.
In terms of team selection, Dortmund will be without defenders Reus, Jankele, and Hummels, as well as their starting goalkeeper Kobel. However, midfielder Sabitzer has successfully returned from injury, although forwards Adeyemi, Reyna, and Durm are still unavailable. In the midweek Champions League match, Dortmund’s bench featured only Malen as a regular starter, with the rest being promoted from the reserve team, lacking significant match experience.
In the past 20 meetings between the two teams, Dortmund holds a 12-4-4 advantage, but they have failed to win in their last three encounters. In this round, the struggling Mainz seeks their first home win, while the determined Dortmund aims to secure all three points. Can Dortmund achieve their goal?
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