Explore My Football Facts’ detailed preview for FSV Mainz 05 vs FC Union Berlin in the Bundesliga. Stats, odds, predictions and line-ups for the 18:30 BST match.
Mainz come into this with the league’s best return of late, but their results have still been varied enough to keep it tight. They’ve scored in four of their last five league games, but they’ve also conceded in four of those five, so there’s still a bit of give and take. Union Berlin’s recent league run has been weaker, with no wins in their last five and three consecutive defeats before the draw with FC Köln.
This points towards a game where Mainz may have home advantage, but not one that should be easy. Union Berlin have been involved in several close scores in the head-to-head, so a narrow margin looks more likely than a comfortable home win. Match prediction: FSV Mainz 05 2-1 FC Union Berlin
Forms guide and team overview
FSV Mainz 05
FSV Mainz 05 have picked up seven points from their last five league games, which is a good return even if the pattern has been inconsistent. Highlights include the 2-1 win at St. Pauli, and have also shown they can compete in tighter games, but a 3-4 home loss to FC Bayern München and a 0-1 loss to SC Freiburg show they are not entirely secure at the back.
They’ve scored in four of those five league games, which gives them a useful baseline going into this one. At the same time, recent results suggest that they feel more comfortable when the game remains open rather than when they are forced to chase control.
FSV Mainz 05 Last 5 results
FC Union Berlin
FC Union Berlin have not won any of their last five league games, and this is the clearest trend in their recent form. They have lost three in a row before the 2-2 draw with FC Köln, with those defeats coming against RB Leipzig, VfL Wolfsburg and Heidenheim.
The draw with FC Köln at least halted the losing streak, but the big picture remains of a team struggling to turn games around. They have scored in each of those five league games, but have also conceded in all five, which points to a competitive but vulnerable side.
FC Union Berlin Last 5 results
Team news and injury report
FSV Mainz 05
- Jae-sung Lee (Toe Injury)
- Maxim Leitsch (hamstring injury)
FC Union Berlin
- Frederik Rönnow (Adductor injury)
Alignments and tactical configuration
FSV Mainz 05 (3-5-2)
Expected lineup: Daniel Batz (goalkeeper), Danny da Costa (defender), Kacper Potulski (defender), Stefan Posch (defender), Grenddy Perozo (midfielder), Kaishu Sano (midfielder), Nadiem Amiri (midfielder), Paul Nebel (midfielder), Silvan Widmer (midfielder), Phillip Tietz (forward), Sheraldo Becker (forward)
Mainz’s predicted 3-5-2 should give them a solid base through the middle, with Grenddy Perozo and the central midfielders helping them stay compact and move the ball into advanced areas. Phillip Tietz and Sheraldo Becker can work as a forward pair to stretch Union’s back three and attack the spaces behind the full-backs.
FC Union Berlin (3-5-2)
Expected lineup: Carl Klaus (Goalkeeper), Danilho Doekhi (Defender), Diogo Leite (Defender), Stanley Nsoki (Defender), Aljoscha Kemlein (Midfielder), András Schäfer (Midfielder), Josip Juranovic (Midfielder), Rani Khedira (Midfielder), Tom Rothe (Midfielder), Oliverh BurkeAttas (Midfielder), Oliver (Midfielder)
Union Berlin’s projected 3-5-2 should keep them well stocked in central areas, with Aljoscha Kemlein and the rest of the midfielders aiming to slow down Mainz’s pace and protect the defence. Ilyas Ansah and Oliver Burke pace them up front, which could matter if they can break quickly from a compact formation.
