Bayern Munich vs FSV Mainz 05
Bottom-club FSV Mainz head to the Allianz Arena this weekend to take on Bundesliga champions, FC Bayern, in Round Three of the 2019/20 campaign.
Lambs to the slaughter you may think. And with good reason as Niko Kovac’s Bayern have started the season in free-scoring mood and have brought in some star recruits.
Meanwhile, FSV Mainz boss Sandro Schwarz has an early-season headache after back-to-back defeats, and the chances of avoiding a third are worryingly thin.
The early Bundesliga 2019 results have given the table a familiar look as Borussia Dortmund sit at the top after a perfect start, just as in 2018, and FC Bayern ready to play catch-up from sixth. And we all know how ruthless Die Roten can be when they have a target in their sights.
Talking Points
Red-hot Robert
The most prolific goal scorer in recent Bundesliga history is at it again. Robert Lewandowski has already scored five goals as the champions followed up a 2-2 draw with Hertha Berlin by smashing Schalke 04, 3-0.
BVB have made an electrifying start with two wins from two, but their two top scorers are just managing to keep pace with Die Roten’s hitman; Paco Alcacer has scored three and Jadon Sancho two, and I doubt either will catch Lewandowski any time soon.
Kovac is determined to keep the Bavarians’ iron grip on the Bundesliga, having been pushed so close last season, and reinforcements have arrived at Bayern in the shape of Philippe Coutinho and Ivan Perisic.
The signing of Coutinho, in particular, has excited Bayern fans. After a difficult spell at Barcelona, they hope the attacking midfielder will recapture the form which lit up the Premier League in his time at Liverpool.
Mainz’ Mission: Impossible?
Well then, SBOBET Bundesliga fans, is there a case for Mainz springing a surprise against a team in good early-season form and a striker on fire?
Die Nullfunfer are no mugs, having played their football in the top division throughout the last decade. They’ve been happily in midtable for the most part, with a sixth-place finish in 2016.
But this season hasn’t started as hoped. Robin Quaison has scored Mainz’ only goal so far in their 3-1 home defeat to Borussia Monchengladbach last week, but that wasn’t enough to keep Die Nullfunfer off the bottom of the early Bundesliga table.
Quaison has played much of his career in midfield and the Swedish star has attracted interest from Premier League side Newcastle United. But Schwarz has pushed him further forward to fill a striking role which doesn’t have too many alternative candidates.
Skipper Danny Latza has a goal in him, scoring a hat-trick on his Bundesliga 2016 debut for Mainz in a 3-1 home win over Hamburger SV. Any goals Mainz can muster will take a little pressure off their defence, which will come under serious attack.
All eyes will be on Moussa Niakhate and Alexander Hack, who are likely to line up as Mainz’ centre-back pairing. They need to play out of their skins!
History
The head-to-head results don’t give the underdogs much comfort. Bayern have won 23 of the 31 games against Mainz played since 2004, while Die Nullfunfer have picked up five wins and three draws.
The last time these two teams met at the Allianz Arena, in March, Bayern handed out a 6-0 thumping as Lewandowski opened the scoring…and the floodgates!
In fact, FSV Mainz have gone four games without a win against Die Roten. Bayern are unbeaten in their last four games (and their last eight at home), while Mainz come into the game with three defeats on the bounce, including those first two matches this season.
The Bayern Munich vs FSV Mainz 05 betting odds make this look rather like a David vs Goliath clash.
Betting Tip
 |
 |
Bayern Munich vs FSV Mainz 05 | Under 4.00 goals @1.84 |
| August 31, 21:30 (GMT+8) |
The odds on FSV Mainz to pull off a stunning win might look tempting at 26.00; after all, this is a two-horse race! FC Bayern at 1.10 tells its own story but what about a draw at 8.00?
Mainz have been a mainstay of the Bundesliga for ten years and Schwarz needs to find a way to preserve that status. That will mean recovering from a sticky start.
While goals have been hard to come by for Die Nullfunfer, that is not the case for Die Roten, Lewandowski in particular.
The most likely score is 3-0 at odds of 6.60.
Schwartz would dearly love a point, but he will defend deep and hope to hit Bayern on the break. But if the hosts strike early on, the onus will be on the visitors’ defence to limit the damage.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
 = €20 (Highly confident) |
= €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
|
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
