FC Bayern are away to Mainz at 15:30 CEST on Saturday in the first game since being crowned champions of Germany for the 32nd time (coverage on fcbayern.com with our live text commentary and free web radio). Even though the objective of winning the Bundesliga has been completed, FCB still have goals for the final run-in. Here’s all you need to know in our preview:
Check out the best photos from final training here:
Situation for Bayern
After wrapping up the title with a 3-1 win against Borussia Dortmund last week, Julian Nagelsmann wants to use the remaining three games to give a few players “a chance from the start”. For example, our head coach announced in his Friday press conference that Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, who is yet to play from the off this season, will start. Marcel Sabitzer also has a “chance of being in the starting XI”. And Bayern are still in with a chance of setting a scoring record for a Bundesliga campaign. FCB are currently on 92 this term, with the season record standing at 101 from 1971/72. “It’ll be our goal to score as many goals as possible in the final three games,” Nagelsmann declared. “As for how many it’ll be, that’s down to us on the one hand but also how many the opponents allow. It won’t be a walk in the park, but we’ll try to define ourselves by goals.”
Choupo-Moting came off the bench last matchday against Dortmund but will now start against his former club.
The opposition
Mainz are somewhat in no-man’s-land in the table, sitting in 10th place. They are guaranteed of safety but also out of the running for Europe. It means there isn’t much left to play for, but the 05ers are still highly motivated for Saturday. “A top team is coming here and we’ll try to test ourselves against the best. I don’t think that’s not interesting,” said head coach Bo Svensson. “We’ve also got a home game in front of a full crowd. We’re definitely up for it.“ It’ll be the first time in two years that the MEWA Arena has been completely sold out, and Mainz want to take the chance to make up for things in front of their own fans. The 05ers have picked up just two points from the last five games and suffered their heaviest defeat of the season last time out at Wolfsburg (5-0). “We’ve got some making up to do, even if it’ll be very tough,” Svensson stated.
Watch Nagelsmann’s press conference in full:
Player update
Bayern are without Thomas Müller for the trip to Mainz. “He’s ill and won’t fly with us,” Nagelsmann confirmed. Dayot Upamecano was away during the week and the coach doesn’t yet know if the defender will be part of the squad. “It could well be that he gets a weekend off to be with his young family.”
As for Mainz, Alexander Hack is available to start again after overcoming a thigh problem. However, Jeremiah St. Juste (shoulder) and Jae-Sung Lee (knee) remain sidelined.
What the coaches say
Julian Nagelsmann: “They’re an extremely quick, dynamic, physically good team who have a top mentality. Their performances in recent weeks were maybe a bit rocky, but they’re very strong at home. We’ll need a top performance. I always like playing in Mainz. They were always good games for the spectators. They’re a team who try things and have a cool crowd. I’m looking forward to the game. They’ll push us, if not all the way.”
Bo Svensson (Mainz): “We need to be at our top level in every area. When I look at just the reverse fixture, we did very well for over 90 minutes. Bayern maybe weren’t quite at the level in the first 45 minutes and we were. In the second half, when they unleashed their potential and also reached their level with intensity, they made it tough for us. That will always be the case. You need the full package to stick with them.”
Here’s the best facts and stats in the game in Mainz:
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