RB Leipzig vs Mainz

The stakes are high for Bundesliga giants RB Leipzig as they host fellow top-four rivals Mainz in a must-win clash at the Red Bull Arena.

Leipzig’s underwhelming run of five draws across six Bundesliga outings (W1) has seen them drop out of the top four as the pressure continues to build on manager Marco Rose. Indeed, his charges commence this round beneath Mainz in the table on goal difference after finishing 30 points ahead of them last season. Despite going unbeaten in seven consecutive home games across all competitions in the build-up to this clash (W5, D2), three points are not a foregone conclusion for ‘Die Roten Bullen.’ Indeed, they have failed to score in their last two meetings with Mainz on this ground (D1, L1), though they did win 2-0 in October’s reverse fixture. One goal could make a difference, considering Leipzig kept two clean sheets in three home games in February.

On the other hand, the visitors have gone from two consecutive scoring blanks in the Bundesliga (D1, L1) to back-to-back 2-0 victories against bottom-half Heidenheim and St. Pauli to move within a single-point distance of fourth-placed Freiburg. A comfortable triumph at Heidenheim saw Mainz end a dismal three-game losing league streak on the road, during which they only netted one goal. However, they’ve been outstanding at the back, with only Bayern Munich (19) conceding fewer goals in the Bundesliga this season than Mainz’s 24 – their best defensive record at this stage of the competition since 2011/12!