Wolfsburg vs Mainz Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 German Bundesliga
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A draw or win here for Wolfsburg secures them a sixth-place finish, but defeat at the hands of Mainz opens the door for Hoffenheim to usurp them at the last.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 18th May 2024, UK – 14:30 / US EST – 09:30 / US PST – 07:30
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Sky Sports schedule / US – ESPN
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Sky Go / US – ESPN+
WOLFSBURG PREVIEW: WOLFSBURG ALREADY PLANNING FOR NEXT SEASON
With nothing at stake in regards to European football or relegation fears, the Wolfsburg players may be forgiven for having one eye on their summer holidays. But before that, they have one more round of Bundesliga fixtures to play through and it’s an important one from their opponents perspective, so professionalism here is important from a Wolfsburg point of view.
Wolfsburg’s run of three consecutive victories came to an end last weekend as they were beaten 2-0 by Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena. Conceding after just four minutes made life extremely hard for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men who failed to get back into the game.
MAINZ PREVIEW: MAINZ GUNNING FOR DRAMATIC LAST DAY SURVIVAL
Mainz are in the box seat going into the final day when it comes to the battle for Bundesliga safety. They will begin the final round of fixtures on 32 points, two points above 16th-placed Union Berlin and with a vastly superior goal difference, which could be very important come the full-time whistles.
That goal difference ensures that at least a point in this game will almost certainly be enough to see them safe, but defeat opens the door for Union, who could end up knocking Mainz into the relegation play-off as a result.
WOLFSBURG TEAM NEWS: KNEE STILL TROUBLING VRANCKX, WHILST AT LEAST FOUR CONFIRMED OUT FOR WOLFSBURG
Jakub Kaminski and Patrick Wimmer are fighting for a place in the starting line-up on what is likely to be the left-hand-side of a front three. The hosts will be without the likes of Gerhardt, Nmecha, Pejcinovic and Svanberg though.
Midfielder Aster Vranckx is still having issues with his knee, which may well see him left out of the squad, but either way he would be unlikely to start with Majer and Arnold Wolfsburg’s primary central midfielders.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-3): Casteels; Lacroix, Bornauw, Jenz; Maehle, Majer, Arnold, Paredes; Baku, Wind, Kaminski
UNAVAILABLE: Gerhardt (Injured), Nmecha (Injured), Pejcinovic (Injured), Svanberg (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Vranckx (Injured)
MAINZ TEAM NEWS: ONISIWO DOUBTFUL AND DEFENDER LEITSCH OUT
As is stands, Maxim Leitsch is the only player who definitely won’t be available for Mainz. The defender’s muscular injury sidelines him, whilst the fitness of centre-back Stefan Bell is also of concern to the visit.
Striker Karim Onisiwo’s finger injury renders him a doubt, but it would be a surprise if he didn’t at least make the bench. Jonathan Burkardt is expected to start for Mainz with Brajan Gruda and Lee Jae-sung either side of him.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-3): Zentner; Kohr, Van den Berg, Hanche-Olsen; Caci, Barreiro, Amiri, Mwene; Gruda, Burkardt, Lee
UNAVAILABLE: Leitsch (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Bell (Fitness), Onisiwo (Injured)
WOLFSBURG VS MAINZ PREDICTION
Mainz continue to show that they have the stomach for the relegation final day dogfight and one last big effort is needed from their perspective. Provided they can continue their unbeaten run against a club with nothing to play for, then it should be job done as far as they are concerned. Desire can go a long way in games such as this and Mainz battling for every loose ball and running hard from first minute to last gives them a huge chance. Utilise the double chance market and back Mainz to get the result they so desperately need to secure their Bundesliga safety.
WOLFSBURG VS MAINZ TIP: DOUBLE CHANCE - DRAW/MAINZ
