Mainz vs Eintracht Frankfurt

With three Bundesliga matches remaining and a chance to secure a Champions League spot, Mainz 05 will host Eintracht Frankfurt at Mewa Arena on Sunday.

Mainz, sitting seventh with 47 points, trail the final Champions League position by four points and three places, while third-placed Frankfurt boast 55 points, coming off a commanding 4-0 victory over RB Leipzig on April 26.

Mainz suffered a 3-0 defeat to Bayern Munich last weekend, despite matching the champions-elect with two clear scoring opportunities. A missed chance by striker Jonathan Burkardt in the sixth minute proved costly, as he shot over from close range.

The Karnevalsverein have now let in seven goals across their last three games, failing to score in two of those.

Manager Bo Henriksen is aware that a loss on Sunday, combined with a Freiburg win over Bayer Leverkusen, would dash their Champions League hopes. However, with only two points separating them from fifth-placed RB Leipzig, a Europa League spot remains within reach.

Mainz are without a win in their last six matches, losing three, and have not kept a clean sheet in their past eight games.

Despite drawing their last three home games, they remain unbeaten in 10 at Mewa Arena, securing six victories.

Eintracht Frankfurt benefited from Leipzig playing with 10 men after the 50th minute in their recent win, but their dominance was clear, creating five big chances while Leipzig failed to produce any.

The Eagles had not scored in their previous two games but have managed three clean sheets in their last four outings.

Under manager Dino Toppmoller, Frankfurt can lock in a top-four finish with a victory and a Leipzig stumble, or if Freiburg lose. A draw in Mainz, coupled with neither Leipzig nor Borussia Dortmund winning, would also ensure a Champions League spot.

Toppmoller’s side lost 3-1 to Mainz in the league on December 21, but with four wins in their last six Bundesliga matches and only one defeat, Frankfurt are poised to seek revenge.

However, their away form has been inconsistent, with three draws and two losses in their last six Bundesliga road games.