Mainz vs. Frankfurt – News and Probable Lineups

On Sunday, the MEWA Arena will host a Bundesliga match that could influence both the European qualification race and the relegation struggle as Mainz 05 take on Eintracht Frankfurt.

Die Nullfunfer aim for their third win in a row, while Die Adler are looking to secure a third victory in four games this weekend.

Match overview

When Urs Fischer was appointed as head coach of Mainz back in December, his mission was to ensure the team’s survival in the Bundesliga. While he has certainly improved the club’s prospects, they are still watching their backs as they approach the final stretch of the season.

Recently, Die Nullfufner triumphed over Sigma Olomouc with a score of 2-0 in the second leg of their Conference League round of 16 matchup, marking their first appearance in the quarter-finals of a European tournament in their history, thanks to second-half goals from Stefan Posch and Armindo Sieb.

This notable victory followed a 2-0 win against Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga, extending Fischer’s side to an impressive six-game unbeaten streak.

Returning to league action on Sunday, Mainz currently sits in 13th place with 27 points, underscoring the critical nature of their victory over Die Werderaner, as they remain three points above 16th-placed St Pauli.

This weekend, the home side will be eager to strengthen their standing in the top division, and considering that Die Nillfunfer have not lost at MEWA Arena across all competitions in 2026 – with five wins and three draws since a December 5 defeat to Borussia Monchengladbach, fans will arrive with a sense of cautious optimism.

On the other hand, Albert Riera – similar to Fischer – stepped in at Eintracht Frankfurt mid-season, succeeding Dino Toppmoller in late January. Although he has only managed the team for six matches, he too has rejuvenated their season.

Riera’s debut match saw Die Adler earn a point in a 1-1 stalemate against Union Berlin on February 6. Although it wasn’t a remarkable performance, it laid a foundation for a shift in momentum after a string of four consecutive defeats prior.

Since then, Riera has led the team to three wins, two draws, and just one loss (a close 3-2 defeat to Bayern Munich on February 21). Following a 1-0 win against last-placed Heidenheim last Saturday, the supporters are now hoping for a chance at European football next season.

As it stands, Frankfurt finds themselves in seventh place in the Bundesliga, with a total of 38 points, trailing inconsistent sixth-placed Bayer Leverkusen by seven points with eight games remaining.

Die Adler will see this as an opportunity to close the gap on their rivals come Sunday, but they must overcome their poor away form, which has seen them unable to secure a win on the road this year, with only one away victory since a thrilling 6-4 win against Gladbach on September 27.

Team News

Mainz will be missing several defenders this weekend, including center-backs Stefan Bell (knee), Maxim Dal (knee), and Andreas Hanche-Olsen (muscular), and goalkeeper Robin Zentner (groin) will also remain unavailable, alongside right wing-back Anthony Caci (tendon).

In light of this, the expected defensive lineup will likely feature Danny da Costa, Stefan Posch, and Dominik Kohr in a back three, supported by goalkeeper Daniel Batz, while Silvan Widmer and Phillipp Mwene will operate as wing-backs.

On the attacking front, strikers Benedict Hollerbach and Silas (Katompa Mvumpa) will miss the rest of the season due to an Achilles injury and a broken leg, respectively, although Phillip Tietz and Sheraldo Becker are poised to lead the attack.

In addition, defensive midfielder Nadiem Amiri is sidelined due to a heel injury, which may see Fischer opt for a midfield trio of Kaishu Sano, Paul Nebel, and Lee Jae-sung.

As for Frankfurt, they were already somewhat short-handed in defense, missing goalkeeper Kaua Santos (knee), right-back Rasmus Kristensen (ankle), and potentially center-half Arthur Theate, who is doubtful with a knee issue.

To complicate matters, Robin Koch received a red card against Heidenheim, which may lead Riera to deploy Nnamdi Collins, Aurele Amenda, and the versatile Ellyes Skhiri in front of Michael Zetterer in goal.

Mainz 05 probable starting XI:

Batz; Da Costa, Posch, Kohr; Widmer, Nebel, Sano, Lee, Mwene; Tietz, Becker

Eintracht Frankfurt probable starting XI:

Zetterer; Collins, Skhiri, Amenda; Doan, Larsson, Chaibi, Brown; Kalimuendo, Burkardt, Bahoya

While Mainz may have faced difficulties securing wins in recent Bundesliga fixtures, their determination has been well-documented, and with the urgency for points in the relegation fight, they will be particularly driven for this encounter.

Frankfurt, pursuing Leverkusen in the European race, have shown solid form overall, but their challenging road record indicates that they may struggle to take all three points on Sunday.