Mainz vs FC Union Berlin Preview

The Bundesliga returns this weekend as Union Berlin travel to the Mewa Arena to face Mainz.

The hosts, who have been in the German top flight for 15 straight seasons, are in danger of relegation this campaign after a poor first half of the season where they have won just once in 17 games (D8, L8). They are now winless in seven games (D5, L2) after a 1-1 home draw against Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga restart, with that result leaving them in the relegation playoff place and facing a difficult second half of the season.

Their main issue this season has been scoring goals with their return of 14 goals the second-worst tally in the division. Their toothlessness in attack combined with their 29 goals conceded means they will have to improve in all areas if they want to avoid their first relegation since 2006/07.

But doing well against Union Berlin may not be so straightforward if history is anything to go by as Mainz has won only one of the last nine Bundesliga H2Hs, a home win in early 2021.

Meanwhile, Union Berlin have gone from European participants to relegation contenders in the space of six months with the visitors who finished in the top four last season currently lying in 15th place, three points above Mainz.

Unlike their hosts, Union are on the rise under new coach Nenad Bjelica who has overseen two wins in just four games in the hot seat (D1, L1) yielding as many points as the previous 12 matchdays. With their 0-0 draw at Freiburg in their last away league game ending a run of six consecutive travelling Bundesliga defeats, they should hold a degree of confidence in building on their upturn in form here.

Other fixtures taking place this week in the German Bundesliga:

German Bundesliga Table