Borussia Dortmund vs Mainz
Third meets 11th, as Mainz visit Borussia Dortmund in an intriguing Bundesliga clash at Signal Iduna Park this Sunday. Normally, it’s the other way around, but here we are.
Mainz are punching above their weight this season, sitting in third place with 45 points, level with fourth-seeded Eintracht Frankfurt. Bo Henriksen’s men are undefeated in their last six league games (W4, D2), and they’re keen to make it seven in a row to boost their chances of clinching a Champions League berth for the first time in their history.
Borussia Dortmund have played below par this season. They’re trailing by 10 points against the 05ers, although they’re through to the Champions League quarter-finals after winning against Lille. Niko Kovac’s men are keen on halting their two-game losing streak to improve their position.
Talking Points
Kovac has yet to find the right combination at Dortmund
Because of their poor start, Borussia Dortmund changed coaches midseason. But, even with Niko Kovac, nothing much has changed for the Yellow Wall.
BVB seemed to have found their groove when they pummeled Union Berlin 6-0 and FC St. Pauli 2-0, but they followed it up with losses against Augsburg (1-0) and RB Leipzig (2-0). Fatigue may have played a role because they played two legs against Lille in the Champions League quarter-finals in between those league games.
Serhou Guirassy is doing his best to keep Borussia Dortmund afloat. The Guinean international is fourth in the Bundesliga Golden Boot race with 14 league goals. He needs help from his teammates to get more wins.
Jamie Gittens is the team’s second-leading scorer with seven league goals but has lost his position to Maximilian Beier (five league goals and three assists) on the left flank, having started only one of his last four league matches under Niko Kovac. The Englishman recently had hand surgery but is available for selection this weekend.
Pascal Groß, Remy Bensebaini, and Julian Brandt are BVB’s top playmakers with 17 assists combined. They will continue to shoulder more playmaking responsibility since Felix Nmecha (knee) and Marcel Sabitzer (knee) are still injured.
Caci is integral to Mainz’s European hopes
Jonathan Burkardt has taken much of the plaudits for Mainz’s incredible run this season, and rightfully so, since he has 15 league goals this season. However, we would be remiss if we didn’t recognise Anthony Caci, their top playmaker with seven assists.
The 27-year-old left-back played big in Mainz’s 2-2 draw against SC Freiburg before the international break, dishing Jonathan Burkardt and Andreas Hanche-Olsen’s goals. The 05ers were reduced to 10 men when centre-back Dominik Kohr was sent off before halftime for denying Lucas Höler a clear goalscoring opportunity just outside the penalty area. SC Freiburg made it 2-2 when Lukas Kubler scored in the 79th minute, but Mainz held on to share the spoils.
History
Mainz notched a 3-1 win over Borussia Dortmund in the reverse fixture at the MEWA Arena last November. Lee Jae-sung, Jonathan Burkardt, and Paul Nebel scored for the 05ers, while Serhou Guirassy’s 40th-minute penalty prevented a shutout victory. Emre Can’s red card following a reckless tackle in the 27th minute changed the game completely.
Mainz haven’t lost their last four Bundesliga matches against Borussia Dortmund (W2, D2). If Mainz win again this weekend, it’ll be their first time completing a season sweep over Borussia Dortmund. With 45 points after the first 28 matchdays, the 05ers are enjoying their best Bundesliga campaign since they’ve never been in the Top 3 at this point of a season.
Borussia Dortmund have lost seven of their 11 Bundesliga matches in 2025 – a joint league high with Werder Bremen. Head coach Niko Kovac has made the worst start of any BVB coach since Jurgen Rober in 2007 (W2, L4) with just six points from his first six Bundesliga matches.
Betting Tip
The Bundesliga 2025 odds expect Bundesliga 2025 highlights galore at Signal Iduna Park this weekend. Besides our recommended bet, SBOTOP bettors can also go for Over 2.50 at 1.73, Over 2.75 at 1.91, and even Total Goals 4-6 at 2.92, considering how the reverse fixture went. Moreover, a Correct Score of 3-1 in favour of the 05ers – the result of their last meeting – could get you handsomely paid at 50.00 your bet.
Despite their gap in the German top-flight standings, many expect BVB to claim the three points on home soil. Borussia Dortmund are 1.72 favourites, whereas Mainz are 4.22 underdogs, and a draw is at 3.54 in the 1X2 market. Mainz supporters can use this opportunity to cash in big on their squad.
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.
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