Bongarts
| PROBABLE LINE-UPS |
| Mainz (4-2-3-1): Muller; Bungert, Svensson, Noveski, Pospech; Polanski, Soto; Risse, Ivanschitz, Choupo-Moting; Allagui |
Mainz have been in poor form recently, as head coach Thomas Tuchel and his men will be looking to bounce back against the reigning Bundesliga champions with a near full-strength team. Only Florian Heller and ex-Real Madrid man Adam Szalai are unavailable for this game.
| Borussia Dortmund (4-2-3-1): Weidenfeller; Piszczek, Subotic, Hummels, Lowe; Gundogan, Kehl; Gotze, Kagawa, Perisic; Lewandowski |
Chris Lowe will slot back into the team after Germany international Marcel Schmelzer was ruled out with yet another injury. Julian Koch and Marvin Bakalorz are the other absentees for Jurgen Klopp's men, who will be looking for their first win since round two of the Bundesliga.
The pairing in the centre of the pitch is anybody's guess, but it is believed that captain Sebastian Kehl will be partnered by either Ilkay Gundogan or Sven Bender. Ivan Perisic is set to play on the left side of the attacking midfield trident, replacing Kevin Grosskreutz, who has lost his place in the starting line-up after some poor performances recently.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
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Mainz have lost their last two home games, conceding eight goals in the process.
- The hosts on Saturday have never scored more than a single goal in a match against BVB.
- After six rounds, Mainz have slipped in the lower half of the table for the first time since Thomas Tuchel took over the team two years ago.
- Borussia Dortmund have a negative record coming into matchday seven. In 26 years, only Stuttgart have done as badly as reigning champions.
- Last season's away win over Mainz (0-2) placed BVB at the top of the table, and they never surrendered the top spot until the end of the term.
- Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp spent 18 years as a player and seven years as a coach at Mainz before leaving for BVB in 2008.
Prediction
With the impending return of Gotze, and the installment of Perisic into the side, BVB will fancy their chances against a Mainz outfit who are struggling at the moment. It is time for Dortmund to show grit and determination, and they are likely to do just that on Saturday.
Editor's Prediction
Mainz 0 -2 Borussia Dortmund 
