Vincent Kompany’s side remain unbeaten in the league, while Mainz enter the fixture amid a worrying run of form that has seen them slide towards the bottom half of the table.

Verdict: Total away goals over 2.5

Best odds: 7/10

Bookmaker: 888sport

Mainz 05

Mainz’s season is becoming increasingly concerning.

Urs Fischer’s side have lost four of their last five matches in all competitions, and their most recent performance was arguably their worst of the campaign. A 4-1 defeat against Elversberg saw Mainz trail 3-0 at half time and 4-0 before scoring a late consolation goal.

Despite sitting ninth in the Bundesliga standings, the table remains extremely compressed. Mainz are only three points above the relegation playoff spot, meaning another poor run could quickly drag them into trouble.

Home form has been especially disappointing. Mainz are still searching for their first league victory at the Mewa Arena this season, having collected just one point from four home matches. Another defeat would make it four consecutive Bundesliga losses on home soil.

Team News

Defensively, the hosts face additional problems. Dominik Kohr remains unavailable, while Stefan Posch is suspended following his red card against Elversberg. That places extra pressure on Danny da Costa, Fabio Gruber and Kacper Potulski to keep Bayern’s attack under control.

In midfield, Jae-Sung Lee, Kaishu Sano and Nadiem Amiri are expected to start together in an attempt to limit Bayern’s dominance of possession.

Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich remain top of the Bundesliga, but recent draws have prevented them from opening up a significant advantage over Borussia Dortmund.

The Bavarians were denied victory in dramatic fashion against Dortmund last weekend, conceding a late equaliser in a 2-2 draw at the Allianz Arena. That result was their fourth draw in eight matches across all competitions, highlighting a slight inconsistency that has crept into performances.

However, Bayern responded well in Europe, defeating Atletico Madrid 2-0 in the Champions League to extend their unbeaten run and maintain confidence heading into another important domestic fixture.

Away form has generally been excellent. Bayern have won five of their eight matches on the road this season and have scored at least twice in all but one of those outings.

Team News

The visitors continue to deal with several injuries. Luis Diaz and Serge Gnabry are both sidelined with hamstring problems, while Jamal Musiala faces a late fitness test. Kompany himself will also sit out, dealing with a health issue of his own, which means assistant Rene Maric will be in command from the dugout.

Even so, Harry Kane remains the focal point of the attack and will be eager to mark his recently extended contract with another goal. Michael Olise, Lennart Karl and Alphonso Davies are expected to provide support in advanced areas.

Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlovic should anchor the midfield in front of central defenders Dayot Upamecano and Kim Min-jae.

Key Factors to Consider

• Bayern Munich remain unbeaten in the Bundesliga this season.
• Mainz have lost four of their last five matches in all competitions.
• The hosts are still without a home league win.
• Bayern have won five of their last seven meetings with Mainz.
• Harry Kane is chasing his fifth Bundesliga goal of the campaign, with five assists to his name already.
• Mainz have defensive absences due to injury and suspension.

Conclusion

Mainz arrive low on confidence after a poor run of performances and results, and their home record offers little encouragement ahead of the visit of the league leaders.

Bayern have not been completely dominant in recent weeks, but they continue to create chances consistently and possess significantly more quality throughout the squad. Even with a few injury concerns, Kompany’s side should have enough firepower to exploit Mainz’s defensive weaknesses.

Expect the hosts to battle hard, but Bayern’s superior attacking threat should prove enough for a comfortable victory.