Mainz 05 set out in search of their first win of the 2023-24 Bundesliga campaign when they go head to head with Stuttgart at Mewa Arena on Saturday afternoon.
Die Nullfunfer, who are unbeaten in each of their last six games against the home side, will be looking to extend this dominant run and continue their impressive start to the season.
Match preview
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Mainz continue to struggle in the new Bundesliga campaign as they suffered a 4-0 hammering at the hands of Werder Bremen in their last outing before the international break.
Werder Bremen turned in a superb attacking display at the Weserstadion as Marvin Ducksch, Jens Stage, Leonardo Bitencourt and Justin Ninmah all found the back of the net to fire the hosts to all three points.
Mainz have now lost two of their opening three Bundesliga matches — conceding nine goals and scoring two — with a 1-1 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt on August 27 sandwiched between the two defeats.
With the loss against Werder Bremen on September 2, Bo Svensson's men have now gone eight consecutive league matches without a win, losing six and picking up two draws since a 3-1 victory over Bayern Munich on April 22.
However, Die Nullfunfer picked up a morale-boosting result during the international break as they beat MSV Duisburg 2-0 when the sides met at the Stadion am Bruchweg last Saturday.
While Mainz will look to pick up from where they left off against Duisburg, next up is the stern challenge of facing an opposing side who are unbeaten in the last six clashes between the sides, claiming four wins and two draws since a 3-2 loss in January 2019.
Stuttgart, on the other hand, have enjoyed a respectable start to the 2023-24 Bundesliga campaign, winning two of their opening three matches to sit third in the league table.
Sebastian Hoeness's men kicked off the season with an emphatic 5-0 victory over Bochum in the league opener on August 19, one week before crashing back to earth in a 5-1 defeat against RB Leipzig at the Red Bull Arena.
However, Die Roten returned to winning ways in style as they cruised to another 5-0 win over Freiburg on September 2 courtesy of two goals each from Chris Fuhrich and Serhou Guirassy, and Enzo Millot's 75th strike.
Like the hosts, Stuttgart were in action during the international break as they thrashed the Swiss outfit St Gallen 8-3 at the Mercedes-Benz Arena on September September 8.
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Team News
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Mainz 05 will take to the pitch without the defensive duo of Maxim Leitsch and Silvan Widmer, who have been ruled out through MCL and ankle injuries respectively.
They are joined on the club's injury table by Nelson Weiper, who is currently recuperating from a hip problem, while Andreas Hanche-Olsen (ankle) and
Jonathan Burkardt (knee) also continue their spells on the sidelines.
As for Stuttgart, Hoeness will be unable to call upon German defender Josha Vagnoman, who has been sidelined since picking up an ankle injury while on international duty with Germany Under-21s in June.
He is joined on the club's injury table by Norwegian defender Nicolas Nartey (knee) and 18-year-old midfielder Laurin Ulrich, who has been out of action since early August due to illness.
Denis Undav, who recently completed a season-long loan move from Brighton and Hove Albion, continues to await his competitive debut after suffering a knee injury against Sheffield United in pre-season.
Mainz 05 possible starting lineup:
Zentner; Van den Berg, Bell, Fernandes; Caci, Mwene, Barreiro, Kohr; Gruda, Lee; Onisiwo
Stuttgart possible starting lineup:
Nuebel; Stenzel, Anton, Zagadou, Ito; Karazor, Stiller; Mvumpa, Millot, Fuehrich; Guirassy
We say: Mainz 05 1-2 Stuttgart
Stuttgart have put together a fine run of form in recent weeks and head into the weekend with six wins in their last seven matches across all competitions. Hoeness's men take on a floundering Mainz side who have struggled for results this season and we fancy them to extend their dominance in this fixture.
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