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Kick off: 16.10.2015 @20:30
Venue: Coface Arena
Head to head record
Dortmund vs Mainz 4-2 (Bundesliga)
Mainz vs Dortmund 2-0 (Bundesliga)
Dortmund vs Mainz 4-2 (Bundesliga)
Mainz vs Dortmund 1-3 (Bundesliga)
Dortmund vs Mainz 2-0 (Bundesliga)
Mainz vs Borussia Dortmund prediction
Friday’s game at Mainz Coface Arena will be an emotional return for Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel who is set for his first homecoming to the club he coached for six years.
Mainz hoping to upset Dortmund
The O-Fives will be hoping to ruin Tuchel’s homecoming in a Friday night encounter that is expected to attract a great deal of attention from the public. Mainz will want to record their fifth win of the season and close the gap behind the second-placed BVB who are with a five-point cushion in front of the eight seeded Mainz. This will be Martin Schmidt’s first encounter with Borussia Dortmund after his appointment in February, just four days after Hjumland’s final game in charge against the same rivals. Mainz have won just once in last ten meetings, drawing one and losing eight against BVB.
Schmidt will have a couple of his players unavailable for the upcoming event. Elkin Soto is a long-term absentee after his horrific knee injury, while Fabian Frei, Henrique Sereno and Jhon Cordoba are also unavailable through injuries. Niki Zimling is getting close to full fitness and is expected to get back in action in the following week, but will not be able to help his teammates against Dortmund.
Tuchel’s return
Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel had coached Mainz for six years and Friday game will hold a special meaning for him. He stepped down from Mainz helm after failing to make a deal with the management who refused to let him go with a year in his contract, so Tuchel was forced to take a sabbatical year before taking over at Dortmund. He has become an instant hit with BVB getting off to a flying start in the new Bundesliga season. Tuchel’s team recorded ten straight wins in all competitions before suffering a dip in form. Three straight draws against Hoffenheim, Darmstadt and PAOK were followed by the Bayern Munich 5-1 hammering before the nternational break which came at the right time. Tuchel’s team will thus be keen on making an impression and returning to winning ways. Dortmund have this season relied on their in-form striker Aubameyang who has so far scored 10 goals in the competition and is just two shy from Robert Lewandowski who is leading the Bundesliga scoring charts.
Tuchel will be without four of his players who are out of action. Nuri Sahin is suffering from tendon irritation, Marcel Schmelzer is having a thigh muscle strain, while Moritz Leitner is ill. Erik Durm is still revering from his knee operation and is expected to get back in action later in October.
Mainz vs Borussia Dortmund betting tip
We are in for an emotional affair as all eyes will be on Thomas Tuchel who is returning home for the first time as Dortmund manager. Still, we should expect to see an interesting game and goals on both sides.
Tip: Both teams to score
Odds: 1.57 (4/7) @888sport
