Eintracht Frankfurt vs Mainz preview: Frankfurt look for a response

Eintracht Frankfurt

Frankfurt head coach Dino Toppmöller acknowledged his team's recent struggles, citing "too many simple mistakes" in their performance against Leipzig. However, he remains determined to uplift the supporters, promising to "give our fans a pre-Christmas present and give it our all once again" in Saturday's clash.

Frankfurt currently trails league leaders Bayern München by six points and sits two points behind second-placed Bayer Leverkusen. Despite this, they hold a slim four-point advantage over sixth-placed Stuttgart, making their position precarious in the tightly contested Bundesliga standings.

Die Adler have netted an impressive 34 goals this season while conceding 20, giving them the league's second-strongest attack and a defence ranked joint-eighth overall. However, their recent form raises concerns, with three losses in their last four matches and no wins in their previous two Bundesliga outings. This dip contrasts sharply with their earlier run of four consecutive league victories.

On a positive note, Eintracht's home record has been remarkable, as they remain unbeaten in their last 11 matches at Deutsche Bank Park, claiming seven wins during this streak. Their strong home form offers a glimmer of hope as they look to get their season back on track.

Team News

Frankfurt face selection headaches in defence, with centre-backs Aurèle Amenda and Tuta ruled out until February and January, respectively. As a result, Robin Koch and Arthur Theate are expected to anchor the backline in front of goalkeeper Kevin Trapp. Full-back positions are likely to be filled by Rasmus Kristensen and Nathaniel Brown.

In midfield, Ellyes Skhiri and Hugo Larsson are set to form a double pivot, providing support for a strike partnership of Omar Marmoush and Hugo Ekitike.

Mainz

Die Nullfünfer made headlines last weekend by becoming the first team to defeat Bayern München in the Bundesliga this season, with Jae-Sung Lee delivering a match-winning performance by scoring both goals.

Manager Bo Henriksen expressed his delight with his team's performance against Bayern, commending their tactical discipline and bravery. Speaking to reporters, he said, "We were really good tactically, we were there, and that's important when you play against Bayern Munich. If you only defend against Bayern, you will die a slow death. If you're there, if you're calm and courageous, then it's possible [to win]."

Mainz have been in prolific form, scoring 13 goals in their last five matches while conceding only six and securing two clean sheets. This impressive run includes a notable 3-1 victory over Nuri Şahin's Borussia Dortmund on November 9.

Mainz’s recent results have been stellar, with four wins from their last five games. Their strong form extends to away matches, where they have won five, drawn two, and lost just once in their last eight outings, underlining their effectiveness on the road.

Team News

As with Saturday's hosts, the visitors are also grappling with injury concerns, missing winger Gabriel Vidović, striker Jonathan Burkardt, and attacking midfielder Paul Nebel, all of whom sustained injuries in their clash with Bayern. Hyun-Seok Hong, who replaced Nebel, and Armindo Sieb, who came on for Burkardt, are expected to feature in the starting lineup alongside forward Jae-Sung Lee.

Defensively, Mainz might opt for a back three comprising Moritz Jenz, Stefan Bell, and Dominik Kohr, with Kaishu Sano and Nadiem Amiri operating as a double pivot in midfield.