Bundesliga: Mainz Face Freiburg in Surprising Top-Five Clash

FSV Mainz 05 vs SC Freiburg

The top of the Bundesliga table is looking quite different four games in, with Wolfsburg leading the league, and Mainz and Freiburg – who both finished midtable last season – both flying high in the top five.

The two surprising sides now face off this weekend at the Mewa Arena in a surprise clash of top-five teams.

Mainz have had a decent record against Freiburg in recent years, and the Bundesliga 2021 betting odds have them favoured to end Freiburg’s undefeated start to the new season.

Talking Points

Mainz make good start under new coach

Mainz were magnificent in the latter of half of last season. They won eight of their final 15 games, with five draws and just two defeats. And despite having a new manager in Bo Svensson, they have carried over that fine form into this season.

Mainz have three wins in their first four matches and are currently fourth in the table. They defied the Bundesliga 2021 betting odds by beating struggling RB Leipzig 1-0 in their season opener, but were then beaten by newly promoted Bochum in their very next match.

However, they have bounced back well with back-to-back victories over Gruether Fuerth (3-0) and Hoffenheim (0-2).

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Svensson has done an impressive job in quickly solidifying a middling defence that had consistently conceded over 50 goals over the last five years. They have already kept three clean sheets in their first four games after having just five clean sheets in the entirety of last season.

Meanwhile, the Mainz attack is providing adequate production despite losing its top two goalscorers from last season in Jean-Philippe Mateta (7 goals) and Robin Quaison (6). It has been a complete team effort thus far, with six different players scoring the team’s six goals.

Young Jonathan Burkhardt has started all four games thus far at striker and has done well, getting six total shots (four on target). Meanwhile, veteran striker Adam Szalai – who just returned after testing positive for Covid – has been a capable option off the bench.

Freiburg still undefeated

Freiburg are just one of three teams still undefeated in the Bundesliga through four games. After a goalless draw at Arminia Bielefeld in their season opener, they scored two impressive Bundesliga 2021 results with wins over Borussia Dortmund (2-1) and Stuttgart (2-3).

However, they needed a late own-goal equaliser to get a 1-1 home draw against Koln, who had gone down to 10 men in the last quarter of an hour.

Now in his 11th season in charge, Christian Streich is still getting the most out of a squad that is more or less the same as last season’s.

Bundesliga: SC Freiburg will go up against Mainz away from home this weekend — SC Freiburg manager Christian Streich coaching his team from the touchline

The main change is the arrival of Maximilian Eggestein, who comes over from relegated Werder Bremen to replace the departed Baptiste Santamaria in midfield. Eggestein made his first start in the draw against Koln but was quickly subbed off at half-time.

Veteran striker Nils Petersen also made his first appearance of the season against Koln after undergoing knee surgery. The 32-year-old has been a consistent source of goals for Freiburg over the years. He had eight goals last season despite starting in just 12 of his 32 games.

Former Bayern Munich youngster Jeong Woo-Yeong has been stepping up in Petersen’s absence. The 21-year-old South Korean currently leads the team with two goals on eight shots (four on target) in his first four games.

History

Mainz have had the upper hand in their recent Bundesliga head-to-heads with Freiburg. The 05ers have won 12 of their last 20 league meetings, with Freiburg claiming six wins, while there have been four draws.

However, you need to go back to 2014 for the last draw between these two clubs in the Bundesliga. There has been a winner in each of their last 11 matches, with Mainz holding a slight 6-5 edge. They pulled ahead after doing the double over Freiburg last season. They won 1-0 at home thanks to a late Robin Quaison goal.

Jean-Philippe Mateta, who is currently on loan at Crystal Palace, loved playing against Freiburg. He scored eight goals in four games against them thanks to two hat-tricks, one of which coming last season.

Betting Tip

	FSV Mainz 05 vs SC Freiburg	Under 2.50 @ 2.02
	September 18, 21:30 (GMT+8)

SBOTOP odds have Mainz installed as 2.12 favourites to get the win at home. Freiburg are priced at 3.30, while a draw is not far behind at 3.40.

There is not much difference between the two sides in terms of quality. Neither club has much in the way of star power or goalscoring ability.

Moreover, both teams have kept things fairly tight at the back thus far, so this could have the makings of a tight game. That is why I am anticipating this top-five battle to be a low-scoring affair that could very well be decided by the odd goal.