Mainz 05 v RB Leipzig Preview: Opel Arena return for Mainz after COVID-19 hiatus

After coming from two goals down to take a point at Köln last week, Achim Beierlorzer's Mainz side return to the Opel Arena on Sunday to face an RB Leipzig who stuttered to a 1-1 draw with Freiburg last time out. Mainz will look to avenge the result of the previous fixture against Leipzig - they were thrashed 8-0 at the Red Bull Arena in November.

Liverpool loanee Taiwo Awoniyi and Pierre Kunde were on target for Die Nüllfunfer at the RheinEnergieStadion as they produced a late fightback for a point, while it was Yussuf Poulsen who saved the day for Die Roten Bullen after Manuel Gulde poked Freiburg ahead in Saxony.

Those results mean that Mainz extended their unbeaten run to three games, while Julian Nagelsmann's RB drew their third match in a row, taking them to seven Bundesliga matches without defeat.

Current Form

Mainz: DLWDD

Leipzig: WWDDD

Team News

Jean-Philippe Mateta is available again for Mainz after serving a one match suspension, and Beierlorzer has a fully fit squad to choose from as announced by the club on social media on Friday.

A clean bill of health for the squad ahead of #M05RBL 🎉#UpTheMainz pic.twitter.com/sKZrF9On6s
— Mainz 05 English (@Mainz05en) May 22, 2020

Julian Nagelsmann has confirmed that Marcel Sabitzer is fully fit after coming off the bench against Freiburg, but says Emil Forsberg is still touch and go for the trip to the Rhineland Palatinate

🎙 #Nagelsmann:

“Emil #Forsberg will return to team training on Saturday. It’s still not decided if he’ll feature against Mainz.”#M05RBL pic.twitter.com/iUqpaQ47Bz
— RB Leipzig English (@RBLeipzig_EN) May 22, 2020

Previous Meetings

Mainz have a wretched record against RB Leipzig, recording just one victory in the seven previous meetings between the two. As mentioned earlier, the last encounter between the two saw Leipzig demolish Die Nüllfunfer 8-0.

Last Five:

RB Leipzig 8-0 Mainz

Mainz 3-3 Leipzig

RB Leipzig 4-1 Mainz

Mainz 3-0 RB Leipzig

RB Leipzig 2-2 Mainz

How to watch and stream

The game is available to viewers in the United Kingdom from 14.15 BST on Sunday on BT Sport 1 and BT Sport 1 Ultimate, as well as being able to stream on the BT Sport app.

As well as this, VAVEL UK will have LIVE minute-by-minute updates of the game, with pre-match buildup throughout the day.