Dortmund's Haaland to set more records as BVB take on Mainz

Topics: TV Schedules, Borussia Dortmund, Mainz 05, Bundesliga

Borussia Dortmund will be looking to make it three Bundesliga wins on the spin as they host relegation candidates Mainz on Saturday, January 16th.

Preview: Borussia Dortmund vs Mainz 05

Since interim boss Edin Terzic took over from Lucien Favre last year, Borussia Dortmund have seen a significant uptick in results. Die Schwarzgelben, who hit their nadir in a 5-1 home defeat to newly promoted Stuttgart in December, will come into their upcoming match having won four of their last five games across all competitions. That includes a confidence-boosting 3-1 road win against RB Leipzig, and now Dortmund will be looking to make it three straight wins to claw their way up the table.

Currently, the hosts sit in fifth place, but with Leverkusen suffering a surprise loss to Union Berlin earlier on Friday, Dortmund are in an excellent position to rise to third spot should they defeat their upcoming visitors. And considering that Mainz have lost a whopping 11 out of their first 15 games, picking up just six points in the process, the odds are firmly stacked in the hosts' favor.

That is, on paper at least. Despite their struggles this season, Mainz have caused problems for Dortmund in recent times, and the visitors have actually won two of their last three matches at the Signal Iduna Park. However, this season has seen Mainz already go through three coaches, with their fourth, former player Bo Svensson, being handed the Herculean task of helping die Nullfunfer claw their way up the table. Unfortunately, Svensson's debut match saw his new team lose 2-0 to Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend, albeit the relegation candidates will certainly feel aggrieved by some of the refeering from that tie.

Furthermore, with Dortmund's Norwegian star Erling Haaland in brilliant form - he netted a brace last weekend - Mainz's budding streak at the Signal Iduna Park looks likely to come to an end. Of course, as we have seen in other cases, the underdogs sometimes do upset the odds, and with that in mind, Dortmund nonetheless will not be taking this game too lightly.

Team news: Borussia Dortmund vs Mainz 05

Dortmund: Axel Witsel is now out for a long period following an Achilles injury. In addition, Terzic will still have to do without the services of Thorgan Hazard and Marcel Schmelzer due to thigh and knee injuries respectively, while youngster Jude Bellingham is currently struggling with a foot injury.

Mainz: Pierre Kunde is a definite absentee as a result of a knee injury, while Edmilson Fernandes has contracted COVID-19. Luca Kilian, Paul Nebel, and Niklas Tauer are all in various stages of doubt due to injuries.

Match facts: Borussia Dortmund vs Mainz 05

Mainz have set two rather unwanted records so far this season after 15 games...
...the first is number of points earned (just six)...
...the second is number of losses (a disconcerting 11)
However, they've won two of their last three matches at Signal Iduna Park after failing to win their prior 11
Haaland is the first player in Bundesliga history to have scored 25 goals from his first 25 matches
Mainz are one of Dortmund skipper Marco Reus's favorite opponents - he's scored 12 times against them...
...which is only second to his record against Werder Bremen (14 goals)