With European football taking over this week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, it’s back to business, as usual, this weekend with leagues across the continent resuming. This includes the Bundesliga and the first of the matches in the German top-flight sees Mainz host Wolfsburg on Friday night. It might be classified as a relegation six-pointer with both sides inside the bottom five: Mainz are 16^th and Wolfsburg are 14^th heading into the match. If either side finishes the season in 16^th, they will face the relegation play-off.

STATS

• As highlighted by their poor league position, Mainz are having a tough time in the league this term. However, they have two wins in their last five games which isn’t too bad for a side fighting for their lives. Their most recent win came in their last match as they beat Hertha Berlin 2-0 away from home, their other three points came against Stuttgart a month ago.
• Wolfsburg’s fall from grace has been abysmal and their recent form is worse than that of their opponents. They have won just once in their last nine Bundesliga games, an unbelievably poor return based on the strength of their squad. Although, they were unlucky to lose to Bayern in their last match: they took the lead in the eighth minute but were eventually beaten 2-1 after a 90^th-minute Robert Lewandowski penalty.
• Mainz aren’t necessarily struggling for goals and Yoshinori Muto isn’t playing badly in attack. He is their leading scorer with six league goals.
• Daniel Didavi has scored the same amount of goals as Muto from his advanced midfield role and is the one shining light from Wolfsburg’s season so far.

HEAD TO HEAD

The uninspiring form of Mainz and Wolfsburg has been highlighted in their recent meetings with each of the last four ending as draws. This includes their last one back in September which ended 1-1 in Wolfsburg with Muto securing a point for the visitors. Mainz were the last side out of the two to win one of the matches, it was in November 2015 and finished 2-0, Yunus Malli who now represents Wolfsburg scored the second that day.

MAINZ NEWS

A home win for Mainz would definitely take them out of the relegation as they would overtake Wolfsburg in the table, and possibly go as high as 14^th. They have three players that are doubts for the match: Rene Adler, Abdou Diallo and Levin Oztunali.

Latest matches: 1 FSV Mainz 05

16.02.2018	Bund	Hertha BSC	1 FSV Mainz 05	0:2	W
10.02.2018	Bund	1899 Hoffenheim	1 FSV Mainz 05	4:2	L
07.02.2018	DFB	Eintracht Frankfurt	1 FSV Mainz 05	3:0	L
03.02.2018	Bund	1 FSV Mainz 05	Bayern Munich	0:2	L
28.01.2018	Bund	Bayer Leverkusen	1 FSV Mainz 05	2:0	L

WOLFSBURG NEWS

Wolfsburg desperately need a win to steer them away from a relegation dogfight, if Stuttgart fail to win, then they will leapfrog them in the table. They have lots of injured players to deal with: Sebastian Jung and Yannick Gerhardt definitely can’t play while John Brooks and Jakub Blaszczykowski are among five players vying to get back into contention.

Latest matches: VfL Wolfsburg

17.02.2018	Bund	VfL Wolfsburg	Bayern Munich	1:2	L
11.02.2018	Bund	Werder Bremen	VfL Wolfsburg	3:1	L
07.02.2018	DFB	FC Schalke 04	VfL Wolfsburg	1:0	L
03.02.2018	Bund	VfL Wolfsburg	VfB Stuttgart	1:1	D
28.01.2018	Bund	Hannover 96	VfL Wolfsburg	0:1	W

SUMMARY

Wolfsburg are undoubtedly the stronger of the two teams in terms of their squad but their injury worries swing the game in Mainz’ favour, who might be seen as favourites with home advantage. It could go either way and depending on who Wolfsburg have available, it provides a great chance for the hosts to get out of the drop zone.