Mainz 05 host Werder Bremen at the MEWA Arena in the Bundesliga on Saturday.

The hosts have been sensational in 2023 and could secure an unlikely European qualification come May.

Match preview

A run of seven games unbeaten for Mainz is the current longest in the division, as they have taken 17 points from a possible 21 in that time.

Only Borussia Dortmund have a better record in the Bundesliga in 2023, and it has sparked an unexpected title challenge from a side who were lingering in mid-table after the mid-season break.

Last weekend saw Bo Svensson's side thrash RB Leipzig 3-0 away from home to move to within one point of Eintracht Frankfurt in the UEFA Europa Conference League spot.

One of Mainz's strengths has been facing weaker opposition at home, as only Bayern Munich and Dortmund have come to the MEWA Arena and won this year.

Ludovic Ajorque has become an important facet of the squad after joining from Strasbourg in January, with three goals in his last five games.

He could contribute to Mainz equalling a club record 13 successive matches where they have scored if they find the net in this one, a record the club set back in 2012 when managed by Thomas Tuchel.

Recent form against Werder suggests they are likely to do so too, as Mainz have won four of the last five encounters between the sides, scoring 11 goals in the process.

In contrast, Werder's form has been very unconvincing since the turn of the year.

Just one win in their last seven means they are not completely assured of safety just yet, but a nine-point cushion between themselves and the relegation places should avert panic for now.

Defensive deficiencies have been the core problem for Ole Werner's men this season, as only relegation-threatened Bochum have conceded more than Werder's 50.

One clean sheet from their last 10 Bundesliga away games suggests they may be in trouble here, especially if the league's top goalscorer Niclas Fullkrug does not bail them out.

Without Fullkrug, Werder could quite easily be in the midst of a relegation battle right now, but many of his 15 league goals have been vital in Werder picking up points.

He carried his form into the international break too, as Fullkrug appears to be solving Germany's long-standing striker issue since the likes of Miroslav Klose and Mario Gomez retired.

Another three goals during the break has taken his Germany tally to six goals in six caps, but it is not just his goalscoring that has caught the eye, as his link-up with Marvin Ducksch has been impressive too.

Five assists on top of his 15 goals sees him second only to Randal Kolo Muani for goal contributions in the German top flight this season.

Team News

The recent form of Ajorque has come at the perfect time, as Mainz remain without their current joint-top scorer Karim Onisiwo due to a knee injury.

The Austrian international returned back from duty with the injury, so Ajorque should start as the focal point once again.

Jonathan Burkardt is their other absentee, as he remains out with an injury picked up during the lengthy mid-season break.

Felix Agu is the only player sidelined for Werder, as the defender has a tendon injury.

Leonardo Bittencourt could make a first start after missing much of February's action - he played 30 minutes in the defeat to Hoffenheim last week.

Mainz 05 possible starting lineup:
Zentner; Fernandes; Bell, Hanche-Olsen; Widmer, Barreiro Martins, Kohr, Stach, Caci; Ingvartsen, Ajorque

Werder Bremen possible starting lineup:
Pavlenka; Weiser, Stark, Veljkovic, Friedl, Jung; Gross, Schmidt, Bittencourt; Fullkrug, Ducksch

We say: Mainz 05 3-1 Werder Bremen

Mainz have been blowing sides away in the league of late, scoring 10 goals in their games with Leipzig, Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Monchengladbach.

Their next opponents are very much out-of-form, meaning a routine home win is potentially on the cards.


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