Bundesliga | Gameweek 24

Mar 1, 2025 at 2.30pm UK

Red Bull Arena

RB Leipzig vs Mainz

Match preview

Leipzig deserve credit for fighting back from two goals down against Heidenheim, but their supporters will be concerned that they conceded twice in the space of 13 minutes against their 16th-placed opponents.

The Roten Bullen eased past Wolfsburg 1-0 in the quarter-finals of the DFB-Pokal on Wednesday, creating four good chances while denying the Wolves any of their own.

Rose's side have only conceded twice in their last four Bundesliga games, but they have also failed to score twice in that time and have conceded 15 times in their last six top-flight matches.

Leipzig are just one point behind fourth-placed Freiburg, who occupy the final Champions League qualification spot, but have taken just eight points from their last 21 top-flight games.

The hosts go into Saturday's clash having drawn five, lost one and won one of their last seven league games, although they are unbeaten in their last six Bundesliga matches.

It should be noted that Leipzig are also unbeaten in their last seven home games in all competitions - winning five - and have won 11, drawn six and lost just one of their last 18 games at the Red Bull Arena.

Opponents Mainz struggled for long periods against St. Pauli, and their two second-half goals were the only real chances they created.

The Karnevalsverein have now won three of their last five games 2-0, and although they have drawn one and lost one, they have also kept four clean sheets.

Only Bayern Munich and Freiburg have picked up more points in their last five league games (10), and their record of 24 goals conceded makes them the second-best defensive team in the top flight.

Bo Henriksen will be hoping to avoid a repeat of the 2-0 reverse fixture against Leipzig on 19 October, when his side failed to create a single real chance.

Mainz beat Heidenheim 2-0 in their last away game on 16 February, but had been beaten by a combined score of 4-1 in their three previous away matches.

Recent Performance

RB Leipzig Bundesliga form:DDDWDD

RB Leipzig form (all competitions):LDWDDW

Mainz 05 Bundesliga form:LWLDWW

Team News

Leipzig have a number of injury concerns, with midfielders Christoph Baumgartner, Forzan Assan Ouedraogo and Xaver Schlager and defender Benjamin Henrichs all likely to miss out.

Centre-back Willi Orban could be deployed in a back three alongside Lutsharel Geertruida and Castello Lukeba, while Amadou Haidara and Kevin Kampl could play in a double pivot.

In attack, Benjamin Sesko and Lois Openda will be joined by Xavi Simons in the absence of Antonio Nusa and Yussuf Poulsen.

Mainz face a dilemma at the back with centre-back Dominik Kohr suspended, while Stefan Bell is unlikely to return until the end of March with a hamstring injury.

In their absence, Henriksen is likely to stick with Danny da Costa, Moritz Jenz and Andreas Hanche-Olsen at the back, with full-backs Anthony Caci and Silvan Widmer possibly joining them in the absence of Philipp Mwene.

Striker Jonathan Burkardt is the most likely candidate to start up front, with Paul Nebel and Jae-sung Lee likely to support him.

Possible starting lineup

RB Leipzig possible starting lineup:

Gulacsi; Geertruida, Orban, Lukeba; Baku, Haidara, Kampl, Raum; Simons; Sesko, Openda

Mainz 05 possible starting lineup:

Zentner; Da Costa, Jenz, Hanche-Olsen; Caci, Sano, Amiri, Widmer; Nebel, Lee; Burkardt