Mainz 05 – Bayern Munich

The guests won't exert themselves before leaving for Paris.

Mainz has had two distinct spells this season in terms of results and content. In the first half of the season this squad looked, to put it mildly, pitiful. They went the longest stretch without a Bundesliga win and had success only in the Conference League. The turning point was the appointment of the experienced Urs Fischer as head coach, who joined the club in early December last year. At some point Mainz didn't just transform; they began delivering results on a par with Germany's top teams. Fischer's team is now a solid mid-table Bundesliga side, playing with ease and confidence. Curiously, Mainz's rise from the bottom of the table began with a sensational draw in Munich. Back then Bayern either failed to prepare or couldn't prepare for the outsider's meeting after their 3:1 home win over Sporting. Mainz became the second team in the Bundesliga to take points off the champion by December 2025. For Bayern, the upcoming match carries no real significance. The Munich players had barely cooled off after their win in the German Cup semifinal in Leverkusen. The team's leaders must prepare for an even more important and tougher test – an away trip to Paris. The Bayern–PSG showdown in the Champions League semifinal is considered by many experts to be an early final. This claim isn't without merit, considering that in the other semi-final Atletico Madrid and Arsenal, the latter out of form, are contesting. As for the championship, Vincent Kompany's team has already clinched the title and broken its own Bundesliga scoring record, which had stood for 54 years. Of course, in the current season Bayern have repeatedly and convincingly dealt with league opponents under a challenging calendar and with squad rotation, but for the upcoming match the guests really need to find some motivation. Not for a rout, but at least to secure the usual three points. Mainz isn't motivated by the standings either, but in the Bundesliga you don't need to persuade anyone to gear up for Bayern. Especially since the match is in front of their own fans.