MX23RW : Monday, December 23 13:04:33| >> :600:276974:276974:
[monks data]
Mainz logo
Bundesliga
Sep 20, 2014 at 5.30pm UK
 
Dortmund logo

2-0

Okazaki (66'), Ginter (74' og.)
FT(HT: 0-0)

Preview: Mainz 05 vs. Borussia Dortmund

Sports Mole takes a closer look at Saturday's Bundesliga meeting between Mainz 05 and Borussia Dortmund.

Borussia Dortmund return to Bundesliga action on Saturday full of confidence after starting their Champions League campaign with an impressive display.

A 2-0 victory over Arsenal at Signal Iduna Park suggested that Jurgen Klopp's side were fully prepared to deal with the injury problems which have hit the club, and also that Dortmund were close to hitting top form.

After leaving a couple of key players on the bench for last weekend's win over Freiburg, Klopp is expected to name a team which looks more similar to the one which enjoyed great success over the Gunners.

Shinji Kagawa is one of the players fighting to earn a starting spot, and he could be welcomed back into the team due to the ongoing absences of Marco Reus, Jakub Blaszczykowski and Ilkay Gundogan.

Mats Hummels is rumoured to be closing in on a return to the centre of defence, but his comeback could be put off for slightly longer.

Mainz will be confident of providing a tough test for the title challengers after recording their first Bundesliga win of the season by beating Hertha Berlin 3-1 last Saturday.

Shinji Okazaki was responsible for two of the goals in that win, and he will continue in attack alongside Sami Allagui, who opened his account against Berlin.

However, there could be a change in midfield should Kasper Hjulmand decide to leave out Jonas Hoffman and welcome Christoph Moritz back into the side.

Recent form

Mainz 05: DDW

Borussia Dortmund: LWW

Possible starting lineups

Mainz 05: Karius, Bungert, Brosinski, Diaz, Bell, Koo, Baumgartlinger, Moritz, Geis, Allagui, Okazaki

Borussia Dortmund: Weidenfeller, Durm, Sokratis, Subotic, Schmelzer, Bender, Kehl, Groskreutz, Aubameyang, Kagawa, Immobile

Sports Mole says: 1-3


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Written by
Callum Mulvihill
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Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp during the friendly with Liverpool on August 10, 2014
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