Mainz vs Bayern Munich
, KO: 19:45 Oct 30, 2024, Mewa Arena
Mainz are set to take on Bayern Munich in the DFB Pokal second round on Wednesday, 30 October in what looks set to be one of the ties of the round.
The hosts needed extra time to defeat third-tier side, Wehen, in the first round of the tournament while Bayern cruised past second-tier side, Ulm, 4-0.
After taking the reigns amid unusual circumstances, Vincent Kompany will be desperate to prove his worth by adding silverware this season so this feels like a more important match for Bayern Munich than their opponents.
How the bookies view it: Bayern start as big favourites
Bayern Munich are the big favourites for this one which isn't a huge surprise given that they are the record winners of the DFB Pokal with 20 wins to their name. Betfred have priced them as short as 1/4 to get the job done inside 90 minutes while a win for Mainz has been priced at 9/1. The draw, which would sent the match to extra time, has been priced at 11/2.
Recent head-to-head: Positives for both clubs
Both teams can take plenty of encouragement from recent clashes. On the face of it, there is more cause for optimism for Bayern Munich, especially as they beat Mainz 8-1 in the most recent meeting between the two clubs. Beyond that, they have won five of the last seven H2Hs.
However, Mainz will be enthused by their recent home record against Bayern. They have won three of their last five matches against the Bavarians at the Mewa Arena.
Players to watch: A chance for Bayern's fringe players
Under Vincent Kompany, some of the biggest names in the Bayern Munich squad have been reduced to roles off the bench. While these decisions may soon come back to bite the Belgian, they could also turn out to be a masterstroke should these players remain motivated and play their part in games like the one on Wednesday night.
The biggest surprise of Kompany's tenure so far has been the role of Leroy Sane. The winger returned back late from Euro 2024 and has been predominantly used as a substitute ever since. Given his relationship with Kompany from their time together at Man City, his lack of starts has been a shock.
Sane did well off the bench at the weekend, scoring Bayern's fourth goal in the 5-0 rout of Bochum and he is expected to be given a start against Mainz. If he can put in a big performance, then he could soon find his way back into the starting XI on a regular basis.
Predicted line-ups
Leroy Sane won't be the only player to be rotated into the Bayern Munich starting XI on Wednesday night with Kompany expected to shuffle his pack. Mainz have a few injury concerns with Andreas Hanche-Olsen, Nikolas Veratschnig, Nadiem Amiri and Jonathan Burkadt all expected to sit this one out.
Mainz: Riess – Kohr, Jenz, Leitsch – Caci, Hong, Sano, Mwene – Nebel, Lee, Sieb
Bayern Munich: Ulreich – Laimer, Upamecano, Dier, Aznou – Goretzka, Kimmich – Sane, Muller, Gnabry – Tel
Anything else catch the eye?
This has been a fixture that has produced goals at both ends of the pitch on a consistent basis over the years. Both teams have scored in 10 out of the last 11 meetings between Mainz and Bayern Munich and BTTS has been priced at 4/7 by Betfred for Wednesday night.
This match between Mainz and Bayern Munich will be played on Oct 30, 2024 and kick off at 19:45. Check below for our tipsters best Mainz vs Bayern Munich prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
