Bochum vs. Mainz 05 preview: Can the hosts avoid relegation? | OneFootball

Bochum

Bochum are languishing at the bottom of the Bundesliga table after winning five, drawing seven and losing 20 of their 32 league matches this season. The basement side have failed to win each of their last seven league games since they recorded a surprise 3-2 away victory over Bayern Munich. Die Unabsteigbaren lost five consecutive matches, before they ended their losing run with a 1-1 draw against Union Berlin. They then played out a goalless scoreline in their most recent outing against relegation rivals Heidenheim, but the failure to claim all three points could prove crucial.

As a result of that draw, Bochum remain four points adrift of Heidenheim, who occupy the relegation playoff place with one game left to play. Bochum know they will be relegated this weekend if Heidenheim take maximum points in their match against Union Berlin. Even if Heidenheim draw, Bochum will need to win to avoid relegation, while a draw will only be enough to send their relegation fight to matchday 34 if Heidenheim lose at Stadion An der Alten Försterei.

If they are to collect maximum points on Saturday, Die Unabsteigbaren will have to beat Mainz for the first time since recording a 2-0 home win in August 2021. The hosts may at least fancy their chances of troubling the scorers, having scored at least two goals in four of their previous five competitive home meetings with die Nullfünfer.

Team News

Bochum are unable to call upon forward Philipp Hofmann, who underwent emergency surgery after he suffered a broken rib and a collapsed lung in last Friday’s away clash with Heidenheim. As a result, the 32-year-old will miss the final two matches of the season. Meanwhile, Mohammed Tolba has been ruled out of Saturday’s clash with an adductor problem.

Mainz 05

Mainz’s European bid has lost considerable momentum in recent times, having hit a poor run of form at the crucial stage of the season. Die Nullfünfer have failed to win any of their last seven matches since beating Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-1 on March 7. Mainz’s winless run has seen them draw four consecutive home games and lose three away matches in a row.

The most recent of those four draws took place last weekend when they played out a 1-1 scoreline with Eintracht Frankfurt. Jonathan Burkardt netted a 57th-minute equaliser to cancel out Rasmus Kristensen’s early opener, extending Mainz’s unbeaten home run to 11 matches.

Mainz’s home form has at least kept their European hopes alive, even if they will most likely have to win their final two matches to sneak into the top six. As it stands, Bo Henriksen’s side are sitting in seventh place and two points adrift of RB Leipzig in sixth position. Their hopes of closing that gap on Saturday may be tempered by the fact that they have lost their last three away games by a combined 8-1 scoreline.

However, they will take confidence from the fact that they have won five of their last six Bundesliga meetings with Bochum, including a 2-0 victory in January’s reverse fixture.

Team News

The visitors are unable to call upon the services of Dominik Kohr and Moritz Jenz, while there are doubts surrounding the availability of goalkeeper Robin Zentner and defender Danny da Costa.