RB Leipzig vs Mainz Preview: Team News & Prediction
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With sixth-placed RB Leipzig and fifth-placed Mainz each sat on 38 points, the stakes are high for both sides ahead of this clash at Red Bull Arena.
Kick-off date/time: Saturday March 1st 2025: – UK – 2:30pm / US ET – 9:30am / US PT – 6:30am
How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / US – Some matches will be televised on ESPN channels so it is worth checking their schedules
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / US – ESPN+
RB Leipzig Preview: Unbeaten in last five
RB Leipzig may not have lost in any of their last five games across all competitions, but three of those matches ended in draws. In order to move above Mainz in the table, this one will need to end in a win for Marco Rose’s side. They were victorious in midweek over Wolfsburg in the DFB-Pokal but how much that took out of Rose’s players remains to be seen.
Mainz Preview: Confidence high following back-to-back wins
Mainz travel to Leipzig full of belief that they can hold off the hosts and stay above them in the Bundesliga table, which they will provided that they avoid defeat here. Bo Henriksen’s men have won their last two games by two goals to nil and haven’t conceded a goal since January.
RB Leipzig Team News: Midfielders missing
Christoph Baumgartner is suspended and combined with the injuries to both Antonio Nusa and Xavi Schlager, this could lead to a central midfield three being deployed with Xavi Simons playing ahead of them in an attacking role, supporting strikers Benjamin Sesko and Lois Openda.
Predicted XI (4-3-1-2): Gulacsi; Baku, Orban, Lukeba, Raum; Seiwald, Haidara, Kampl; Simons; Sesko, Openda
Unavailable: Baumgartner (Suspended), Henrichs (Injured), Nusa (Injured), Ouedraogo (Injured), Schlager (Injured)
Questionable: Poulsen (Injured)
Mainz Team News: Back three switch required
Mainz are missing the suspended Dominik Kohr, meaning they’ll need to replace him in centre of defence. Therefore, expect Andreas Hanche-Olsen to start alongside Da Costa and Jenz. Left-wing-back Mwene is doubtful, so Caci could swap flanks with Widmer starting on the right-hand side.
Predicted XI (3-4-3): Zentner; Da Costa, Jenz, Hanche-Olsen; Widmer, Sano, Amiri, Caci; Nebel, Burkardt, Lee
Unavailable: Bell (Injured), Kohr (Suspended)
Questionable: Mwene (Injured)
RB Leipzig vs Mainz Prediction
The stakes are very high between these two clubs in the race for a Champions League spot and this game could go a long way towards deciding who is successful come the end of the season. Mainz will no doubt look to make themselves as difficult to beat as possible, keeping bodies behind the ball when out of possession and not taking many risks at the cost of their defensive stability.
RB Leipzig themselves have considerably improved defensively of late, shutting out their opponents in four of their last five and all signs are pointing to a low-scoring affair, so back under 2.5 goals between these two sides in what should be a cagey encounter.
RB Leipzig vs Mainz Tip: Under 2.5 goals
