Wolfsburg vs. Mainz preview: Two in-form sides go head-to-head

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·7 December 2024

Wolfsburg vs. Mainz preview: Two in-form sides go head-to-head

Wolfsburg

Wolfsburg have proven to be a tough team to beat in recent times, having avoided defeat in each of their previous seven competitive appearances. Die Wölfe kicked off that run with league draws against St. Pauli and Augsburg on either side of an extra-time victory over Borussia Dortmund in the DFB-Pokal.

Ralph Hasenhüttl’s side went on to claim three consecutive league victories, including a dominant win over RB Leipzig last weekend. Mohamed Amoura netted a brace alongside goals from Tiago Tomás, Joakim Mæhle and Kevin Behrens, guiding Wolfsburg to a 5-1 victory over Hasenhüttl’s former club. Buoyed from that win, Wolfsburg recorded another commanding victory in their midweek Pokal clash against Hoffenheim, with Denis Vavro, Jonas Wind and Yannick Gerhardt finding the net in a 3-0 home win.

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After progressing to the quarter-finals, Wolfsburg will now turn their focus back to league action. Die Wölfe will head into matchday 13 in eighth position after winning five, drawing three and losing four of their 12 Bundesliga matches. The hosts are looking to claim consecutive home league victories for the first time this season after beating Union Berlin in their most recent Bundesliga out at Volkswagen Arena.

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The hosts are expected to be without Lovro Majer, Sebastiaan Bornauw, Rogério, Niklas Klinger, Bartosz Białek, Aster Vranckx and Kevin Paredes.

Mainz

Mainz are sitting one point above Wolfsburg in eighth position after winning five, drawing four and losing three of their 12 matches. Like their opponents, Mainz are enjoying an impressive run of form, having won each of their previous three Bundesliga games. Bo Henriksen’s charges kicked off that winning run with a 3-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund, before they eased to a 3-0 away win over Holstein Kiel.

Mainz recorded another clean sheet in last Sunday’s successful home outing against Hoffenheim. Jonathan Burkhardt's first-half brace proved enough to guide Mainz to a 2-0 victory at the Mewa Arena, extending their unbeaten home run to three league matches. After enjoying success on home turf, die Nullfünfer will now head on their travels for Sunday’s fixture, with the visitors looking to continue their nine-game unbeaten away league run.

Having won three and drawn two of their five away matches this season, Mainz are one of three teams yet to lose a Bundesliga away game in 2024-25. Sunday’s visitors will be hoping to continue their fine goalscoring form on the road, having scored three goals in four of their five top-flight away matches.