Bayern v Mainz: Line-ups, stats and preview

Bayern v Mainz match preview

Bayern Munich will win their 34th Bundesliga title at home with three games to spare if they beat Mainz on Saturday and second-placed Bayer Leverkusen fail to follow suit in their simultaneous home game against 10th-placed Augsburg.

The runaway German leaders exited the Champions League earlier this month with defeat to Inter Milan but could usurp Leverkusen as champions if they avenge their 2-1 defeat at Die Nullfunfer on December 14.

“Everything went for Mainz and it wasn’t a good game by us,” said Roten manager Vincent Kompany, reflecting on that loss.

“We’ve been the better team in most games, but weren’t better there. Mainz have earned their results, have a clear idea, are consistent in everything they do.

“When they press, they press together. When they defend, they defend together. They’ve also had belief this season. They’re always a threat. Our motivation is there – we lost against them, which we don’t want.”

𝑴𝒐𝒐𝒅 in the camp. 😁💪 pic.twitter.com/1YTHCnEGhj

— FC Bayern (@FCBayernEN) April 24, 2025

Despite a five-match winless run, Mainz are sixth and could rise above fourth-placed Leipzig with victory. “We’ve still got confidence and the mood within the team is good,” manager Bo Henriksen observed.

“Watching us train, it’s hard to believe that this team hasn’t won any of their last five games. We’re working very, very well and had quite possibly our best session of the season on Wednesday.

“We’ll head to Munich and we’re looking forward to achieving something with the four games we have left. It’s a fantastic feeling to be in a European spot.

“Despite facing a stiff challenge in Munich, we want to continue competing with the top teams. To do that, we have to be a horrible team to play against.”

🎙️ Henriksen: “To beat FC Bayern, we just have to do exactly what we did in the reverse fixture. We need to make it difficult for them and play an intelligent game. As long as we believe we can win there, anything’s possible.”#Mainz05 #FCBM05 pic.twitter.com/hcmYaUe2xt

— Mainz 05 English (@Mainz05en) April 24, 2025

Bayern Munich v Mainz team news

Bayern legend Thomas Muller’s hopes of making a 500th Bundesliga appearance are under threat because the forward has been ill.

“He wasn’t involved for the first three days this week,” said Kompany, adding that he hoped Muller would rejoin training on Friday. “But Thomas has a lot of experience and mentality.”

Defender or midfielder Raphael Guerreiro is a doubt with a hamstring issue, while defenders Dayo Upamecano (knee), Hiroki Ito (foot), Tarek Buchmann (shoulder) and Alphonso Davies (knee), midfielder Leon Goretzka (calf) and winger Jamal Musiala (hamstring) are out.

Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is recovering from a calf injury and trained with his teammates this week.

💥 𝑨𝑳𝑳 𝑨𝑪𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵 in training at Säbener! 💪 pic.twitter.com/492fAQPl5N

— FC Bayern (@FCBayernEN) April 23, 2025

Henriksen is hopeful that Stefan Bell will play but says the defender is “not yet back to 100%” after three months out with a thigh injury.

Two of Mainz’s centre-backs have hip injuries: Maxim Leitsch will not feature, but Wolfsburg loanee Moritz Jenz could be involved.

Bayern Munich v Mainz stats

Bayern v Mainz prediction

Mainz have collected 23 of their 47 points away from home this season, including a run of three successive wins at Heidenheim, Leipzig and Monchengladbach in February and March.

Their win at Bayern and Henriksen’s optimism about their preparations – allied with their incentive to earn a positive result – makes the visitors enticing underdogs, tempered by their relatively meagre recent run and Bayern’s record of 12 wins from 15 home games.

Both teams have scored in six of Mainz’s last seven matches, with five of those yielding more than two goals. With that in mind, we’ll predict a 2-1 Bayern win.