Preview: Mainz vs. Bayern - prediction, team news, lineupsSports Mole previews Wednesday's DFB-Pokal clash between Mainz 05 and Bayern Munich, including predictions, team news and possible lineups. Mainz 05 take on Bayern Munich in the last 16 of the DFB-Pokal on Wednesday evening, with the Bavarians hoping to win Germany's domestic cup for the 21st time this season. Mainz have never made it to the final of the DFB-Pokal, having reached the semi-final in the 2008-09 campaign. Match preview © Reuters Indeed, that semi-final defeat to Bayer Leverkusen after extra time remains the furthest that Die Nullfunfer have made it in Germany's main domestic cup, despite remaining in the Bundesliga ever since being promoted in that same campaign.
Julian Nagelsmann's side's lead at the top of the table has been cut to a solitary point, with Union Berlin, RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund all on winning streaks and ramping up the pressure closely behind them. As such, the opportunity to compete in a different competition and return to winning ways on Wednesday may be one which the Bavarians relish, even if Nagelsmann would openly admit that the DFB-Pokal is not his team's priority this season. However, it remains a competition which the 35-year-old is yet to win, having lost to Dormund in the final with Leipzig two seasons ago before Borussia Monchengladbach overcame his Bayern outfit in the early rounds last season.
As such, Bo Svensson must be ruing being drawn against Bayern at the last 16 stage this season, although the reigning Bundesliga champions' form has stuttered in recent weeks and it may prove to be a decent time to be facing them. Svensson's side ended a winless run of six league games by beating VfL Bochum 5-2 on Saturday, which moved them seven points clear of their opponents, who currently occupy the relegation playoff spot in the table.
While beating Bayern is always a long shot for a team like Mainz, a packed MEWA Arena will be roaring their players on. Should they cause a major upset, they will be dreaming of going all of the way in this competition for the first time in the club's history. Bayern, meanwhile, drew 1-1 for the third successive league match since returning from the World Cup in the Bundesliga's Saturday night game, with Randal Kolo Muani rescuing a point for Eintracht Frankfurt in the 69th minute at the Allianz Arena.
Bayern Munich vs. FSV Mainz: Team News, Predicted Lineups