Mainz vs. Freiburg preview: Mainz looking to extend unbeaten run
Mainz host Freiburg at the MEWA arena on Sunday afternoon where a win could take them out of the bottom three.
| Photo: Mainz 05 |
Mainz
Unbeaten in their last three games under interim manager Jan Siewert, Mainz are looking to widen the gap between them and the bottom three with a win.
Mainz are yet to grab a second win this season and have the joint third worst goals tally so far this season with only Köln and Bochum having scored less.
Despite this, they have kept two clean sheets in their last four games and in doing so have only conceded three goals in four games since Jan Siewert has taken over.
Following the 1-1 draw versus Hoffenheim in the last match day, interim manager Jan Siewert said: "I must say I am very proud of the team. The lads deserved to win the game today."
However, Siewert will hope that he can turn around his team's poor record in recent years versus Freiburg as Mainz have only won one of their last five matches in the Bundesliga against Christian Streich's side.
Team News
Mainz are unfortunately still in their injury crisis with the following players all unavailable: Karim Onisiwo (ankle injury), Josuha Guilavogui (hamstring problem), Robin Zentner (broken finger), Andreas Hanche-Olsen (ankle), Nelson Weiper (hamstring) and Maximilian Leitsch (thigh injury). Apart from all these injuries, there should be no doubtful players for the game versus Freiburg.
Freiburg
Freiburg failed to win a single Bundesliga game in October following a 1-1 draw against Darmstadt and in doing so are now on a run of four games without a win in the Bundesliga.
Their last game versus Darmstadt meant they slipped into 9th place in the Bundesliga and are now five points off the top six.
However, history proves that Freiburg can bounce back with a win as the last time they failed to win five games in-a-row in the Bundesliga was over three years ago in November 2020.
Freiburg's key player, Vincenzo Grifo, has registered three goals and five assists in the Bundesliga meaning he has contributed to over half of their goals this season.
Following the home draw against Darmstadt, Freiburg coach Christian Streich said: "We must seek that we still get the one or the other point."
In the interview with SWR Sport, Streich also said: "The table is misleading. The deciding factor is (also) that the other teams below us don't gain ground on us."
Team News
For Freiburg, captain Christian Günter is still unavailable with a broken arm. Apart from this, both Maximilian Philipp and Daniel-Kofi Kyereh are out with a shoulder injury and a knee injury respectively. Lukas Kübler is unavailable due to a broken toe and Yannik Keitel and Kenneth Schmidt are both doubts due to groin and abdominal problems respectively.