German Bundesliga Soccer - Mainz vs. Werder Bremen, 6/20/20 - Preview, Prediction & Odds

Needing two points from their last couple of games of the season to remain in the Bundesliga for another year, 15th-placed Mainz will take on second-bottom Werder Bremen, who are still battling for survival. Kick-off - at 9:30 AM ET on Saturday, June 20.

Mainz Stun Dortmund

Relegation-threatened Mainz came within two points of remaining in the Bundesliga for another year after earning an important 2-0 victory against 2nd-placed Borussia Dortmund away at Signal Iduna Park on Wednesday. Despite controlling the ball just 30% of the time and being outshot 16-10, the Zero-Fivers delivered the majority of scoring chances, opening the count through a 33rd-minute header by Jonathan Burkardt, with Jean-Philippe Mateta ending an 11-game scoring drought with a penalty at the start of the second frame. Having won two of their last three outings (W2 L1), Mainz sits 15th in the league (W10 D4 L18), five points above the bottom three with two contests remaining.

A team-high 12 snipes put Swedish-Ghanaian forward Robin Quaison at the top of Mainz’s scoring chart. Goalie Florian Muller, meanwhile, has posted 38 saves, sitting 21st in the Bundesliga’s keeper table. He has picked up two clean sheets in 11 appearances this year and concedes a goal every 41 minutes of play. Mainz has scored the 13th highest number of goals this season (41) while delivering the 7th highest quantity of shots per game (13.3). The team is 3rd worst in both ball possession (45.1%) and passing accuracy (75.3%).

Bremen Get Edged By Bayern

An automatic banishment from the top division drew nearer to Werder Bremen, who failed to take an opportunity to break into the relegation play-off spot after being edged out with a count of 1-0 by Bayern Munich at Wohninvest-Weserstadion on Tuesday. The Green-Whites were outshot by a double (12-6) and went into the half-time 1-0 down, only to see another Bayern goal disallowed in the second frame and fail to take advantage of playing with an extra man for the last 11 minutes of the game following a red card for the Reds, who effectively claimed their 29th Bundesliga title. Werder Bremen are 17th in the league (W7 D7 L18), sitting one point behind the relegation play-off spot with two games remaining.

Having banked seven league snipes this season, Kosovar winger Milot Rashica leads the Green-Whites in goals. Jiri Pavlenka, meanwhile, resides in the 4th position of the Bundesliga’s goalkeeper chart, having turned away 102 shots so far this year. He has registered four clean sheets in 31 outings during the ongoing campaign and allows a goal every 44 minutes on average. Werder Bremen have scored the 2nd lowest amount of goals this season (35) while taking the 5th lowest quantity of shots per game (12.2). The team is 14th in both ball possession (48.6%) and passing accuracy (78.4%).

Prediction

This series has been very close since 2010-11, with both sides registering a W7 D5 L7 record in the Bundesliga against each other. Werder Bremen currently find themselves in a more desperate situation in their bid to remain in Germany’s top division, trailing the relegation play-off spot by a point, sitting six points below Mainz for outright safety, with the Zero-Fivers needing two points in their last two games to guarantee another year in the Bundesliga. With so much at stake for both teams, don’t even bother picking a favorite, as a draw - and a low-scoring one at that! - is definitely the most realistic of outcomes here. Neither side has particularly excelled in scoring this year, while both have been quite decent on the defensive end lately, with Mainz allowing just three goals in their last five matches, and Bremen conceding a single snipe in each of their previous three contests.

Best bets:

Draw (+255)

Under 2.5 goals (+110)