Mainz 05 – Dortmund

Mainz are capable of taking points against Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund have become the second force in German football in the last decade. In essence, the BVB have taken the place of Bayer, who had been shadowed by Bayern from championship to championship for many years. During that time, the Dortmund club repeatedly found themselves in a situation where they fell behind in the Champions League zone, but pulled themselves together and achieved their goals. The middle of the season is the right time for Terzic's team to finally establish their playing bonds and get back to their usual positions. Another thing is that Mainz are no whipping boy and, despite their mid-table position, are dangerous in games against any opponent, regardless of where they play. The bookmakers have offered almost equal odds on the opponents in this meeting, with a slight tilt in favour of the visitors. Mainz finished last season in eighth position, ahead of clubs such as Hoffenheim, Borussia Dortmund, Eintracht and Wolfsburg. In the current championship, the team looks worse, sitting in twelfth place after 16 rounds. Moreover, up to the sixth round, the team lost only once, but then began to gradually decline. The critical moment for Mainz came in late October and early November, when Svensson's charges managed to lose even to Schalke in a series of setbacks. Otherwise, it can be noted that Mainz took first-round points from Leipzig, Union Berlin and Eintracht - three of the top-five sides in the league at the moment. Borussia will come to the Opel Arena as the sixth team in the championship. With that, the Bumblebees should certainly not be powdered with ashes, as they are just two points behind second place. Together with Bochum, the Dortmund side have the fewest draws. That said, the club's uncompromising nature has resulted in six defeats in sixteen games, which is unacceptable for an ambitious squad. In their first game back since the season resumption, Borussia threw a fairy tale against Augsburg, conceding three goals on the home field, but winning 4-3. Menier and Borussia's main star, Bellingham, cannot take to the pitch on Wednesday. On the home pitch, Mainz will certainly offer serious resistance to the Bumblebees, playing confidently from defence.