Mainz 05 vs Borussia Mönchengladbach — Match Preview
The Bundesliga weekend kicks off with a high-stakes encounter under the Friday night lights at the Mewa Arena as struggling Mainz 05 host Borussia Mönchengladbach.
For Mainz, the situation is becoming critical. Sitting 18th in the table with just one win all season, the “Zero-Fivers” are in full-blown crisis mode. Their recent 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Freiburg was a new low, leaving manager Bo Henriksen searching for answers. With key players suspended and injured, Mainz need to summon the “energy and pressing DNA” Henriksen famously preaches to turn their season around before they are cut adrift.
Borussia Mönchengladbach, currently 12th, arrive with their own set of problems. While their league form had shown signs of stabilization (beating Heidenheim and Köln recently), they suffered a demoralizing 2-1 defeat to St. Pauli in the DFB-Pokal midweek. Gerardo Seoane’s side has been plagued by inconsistency—brilliant one week, fragile the next. Against a desperate Mainz side, Gladbach will need to show the mental toughness that has often deserted them on the road.
Mainz 05 vs Borussia Mönchengladbach — Quick Match Info
- Fixture: Mainz 05 vs Borussia Mönchengladbach
- Competition: Bundesliga (Matchday 13)
- Venue: Mewa Arena, Mainz (Capacity: 34,000)
- Date: Friday, 05 December 2025
- Kickoff Time: 20:30 CET / 19:30 GMT / 01:00 IST (Saturday)
- Referee: TBC
- TV Channel (UK): Sky Sports Mix
- TV Channel (USA): ESPN+
- TV Channel (India): Sony Sports Network, SonyLIV
- Live Stream: ESPN+, SonyLIV
Mainz 05 vs Borussia Mönchengladbach — Match Context (2025/26 Season)
Mainz 05:
- League Position: 18th in Bundesliga (6 Points).
- Form: Dire. They have lost 4 of their last 5 games across all competitions, conceding 9 goals in their last three outings. The 4-0 loss to Freiburg highlighted a defense that is leaking goals at an alarming rate.
- Current Challenge: Discipline & Depth. With both Paul Nebel and Dominik Kohr suspended after red cards, and first-choice keeper Robin Zentner injured, the squad is stretched thin.
Borussia Mönchengladbach:
- League Position: 12th in Bundesliga (13 Points).
- Form: Mixed. A solid 0-0 draw against RB Leipzig and a 3-0 win over Heidenheim suggested progress, but the midweek cup exit to St. Pauli (1-2) was a setback.
- Current Challenge: Away Consistency. Gladbach have struggled to string results together away from Borussia-Park. They need to exploit Mainz’s fragility without getting drawn into a chaotic fight.
Mainz 05 vs Borussia Mönchengladbach — What’s at Stake
For Mainz 05:
- Survival Lifeline: A win would take them to 9 points, potentially lifting them off the bottom of the table if other results go their way.
For Borussia Mönchengladbach:
- Mid-Table Security: A win pushes them to 16 points, creating a significant buffer from the relegation zone and allowing them to look towards the European spots.
Mainz 05 vs Borussia Mönchengladbach — Team Form
Mainz 05 (Last 5 Matches):
- L vs Freiburg (0-4)
- L vs Univ. Craiova (0-1 – UECL)
- D vs Hoffenheim (1-1)
- L vs Eintracht Frankfurt (0-1)
- W vs Fiorentina (2-1 – UECL)
Borussia Mönchengladbach (Last 5 Matches):
- L vs St. Pauli (1-2 – Cup)
- D vs RB Leipzig (0-0)
- W vs Heidenheim (3-0)
- W vs K. Lierse S.K. (1-0 – Friendly)
- W vs FC Koln (3-1)
Mainz 05 vs Borussia Mönchengladbach — Team News
Mainz 05:
- Suspensions: Midfielder Paul Nebel and enforcer Dominik Kohr are both suspended following red cards.
- Goalkeeper Crisis: Number one Robin Zentner is out (Groin). Youngster Lasse Riess starts.
- Defensive Injuries: Anthony Caci (Thigh) and Maxim Dal (Knee) are out.
- Illness: Jens Castrop and Jonas Urbich are questionable.
Borussia Mönchengladbach:
- Injury List: Nathan Ngoumou (Achilles) and Fabio Chiarodia (Thigh) are out.
- Questionable: Robin Hack (Knee), Franck Honorat, Florian Neuhaus, and Philipp Sander are all doubts.
- Returnees: Kevin Diks and Nico Elvedi are fit to start in defense.
Mainz 05 vs Borussia Mönchengladbach — Head to Head
- 08 Mar 2025: Gladbach 1–3 Mainz
- 26 Oct 2024: Mainz 1–1 Gladbach
- 02 Mar 2024: Mainz 1–1 Gladbach
- 07 Oct 2023: Gladbach 2–2 Mainz
- 25 Feb 2023: Mainz 4–0 Gladbach
Mainz 05 vs Borussia Mönchengladbach — Predicted Lineups
Mainz 05 (3-4-2-1):
- GK: Lasse Riess
- CB: Danny da Costa
- CB: Lennard Maloney
- CB: Kacper Potulski
- RWB: Silvan Widmer (C)
- CM: Kaishu Sano
- CM: Nadiem Amiri
- LWB: Phillipp Mwene
- CAM: Arnaud Nordin
- CAM: Lee Jae-sung
- ST: Benedict Hollerbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach (4-2-3-1):
- GK: Moritz Nicolas
- RB: Joe Scally
- CB: Nico Elvedi
- CB: Kevin Diks
- LB: Luca Netz
- CDM: Yannik Engelhardt
- CDM: Rocco Reitz
- RW: Gio Reyna
- CAM: Kevin Stöger
- LW: Shuto Machino
- ST: Haris Tabakovic
Mainz 05 vs Borussia Mönchengladbach — Impact Bench Options
Mainz 05:
- Armindo Sieb: If Mainz need energy upfront, Sieb’s pressing ability can cause problems for tired defenders.
- Jonathan Burkardt: If fit enough for the bench, he is their best goal scorer.
Borussia Mönchengladbach:
- Tim Kleindienst: The tall striker is a menace in the air. If Tabakovic isn’t working, Kleindienst offers a different aerial threat.
- Alassane Pléa: Brings experience and technical quality to unlock a tight game late on.
Mainz 05 vs Borussia Mönchengladbach — Tactical Outlook
Mainz 05:
- Playing Style: High Intensity Press. Even without Kohr, Bo Henriksen will demand his team run through walls. They will look to disrupt Gladbach’s build-up and feed Lee Jae-sung quickly in transition.
- Weakness: Inexperience at the Back. A backline featuring Potulski and Maloney (a midfielder playing CB) is very makeshift. Gladbach will target them.
Borussia Mönchengladbach:
- Playing Style: Possession & Crosses. Seoane will look to control the tempo through Stöger and Reitz. With Tabakovic upfront, they will look to swing crosses in from Netz and Scally.
- Strength: Midfield Creativity. Kevin Stöger is one of the best chance creators in the league. Against his former club, he will know exactly where the spaces are.
Mainz 05 vs Borussia Mönchengladbach — Key Battles
| Matchup | Battle Type | Edge |
| Nadiem Amiri vs. Kevin Stöger | The Playmaker Duel: Both are the heartbeats of their teams. Stöger has more support today. | Gladbach |
| Silvan Widmer vs. Shuto Machino | Wide Battle: Widmer loves to attack, but Machino is tricky. If Widmer leaves space, Machino will exploit it. | Mainz |
| Lennard Maloney vs. Haris Tabakovic | Mismatch Alert: Maloney is a makeshift CB. Tabakovic is a physical beast. This is Gladbach’s main route to goal. | Gladbach |
Mainz 05 vs Borussia Mönchengladbach — Spotlight Players
Lasse Riess (Mainz 05):
The young goalkeeper is thrust into the spotlight with Zentner injured. A Friday night game under the lights is a huge test of character. He needs to command his box against Gladbach’s aerial threats.
Kevin Stöger (Gladbach):
Returning to Mainz where he was a fan favorite. Stöger has the vision to pick apart this depleted Mainz defense. If he is allowed time on the ball, he will run the show.
Mainz 05 vs Borussia Mönchengladbach — Fan Reactions
Mainz Fans:
“No Kohr, no Nebel, no Zentner… who is left? We need a miracle.”
“Friday nights are special at the Mewa. The crowd has to be the 12th man.”
Gladbach Fans:
“St. Pauli was embarrassing. We have to beat the team in 18th place.”
“Stöger masterclass incoming. He always plays well against his old teams.”
Mainz 05 vs Borussia Mönchengladbach — Where to Watch
- UK: Sky Sports Mix
- USA: ESPN+
- India: Sony Sports Network, SonyLIV
- Germany: DAZN
Mainz 05 vs Borussia Mönchengladbach — Match-Defining Factors
- Mainz’s Discipline: They cannot afford another red card. With key players already suspended, they must keep their heads cool.
- Early Nerves: If Mainz concede early, the toxic atmosphere from recent results could return. They need a good start.
- Gladbach’s Efficiency: Gladbach create chances but often miss them. Against a rookie keeper, they need to be clinical.
Mainz 05 vs Borussia Mönchengladbach — Prediction
Score Prediction: Mainz 05 1–2 Borussia Mönchengladbach
Betting Insights:
- Outcome: Gladbach to Win.
- Total Goals: Over 2.5 Goals (Mainz have conceded 23 goals; Gladbach have conceded 19).
- Both Teams to Score: YES.
Analysis: Mainz are fighting for their lives, but their squad is decimated by suspensions and injuries in key areas (GK, CB, DM). Gladbach have superior quality, especially in midfield with Stöger. While Mainz will fight hard at home, Gladbach should have enough to edge a high-scoring game.
Mainz 05 vs Borussia Mönchengladbach — Final Word
Mainz 05 are in a hole that keeps getting deeper. Borussia Mönchengladbach have been inconsistent, but facing the bottom side with a makeshift defense is the perfect opportunity to get back on track. Expect a tense, physical battle where quality eventually shines through.
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