Bayern's last away defeat came at a ground where Mainz now cannot win
Mainz have taken nine points from four away games, the best record in the Bundesliga, and one from four at home. Bayern have gone 30 away matches unbeaten since they lost 2-1 there in December 2024, and came back from 3-0 down on the same pitch in April.
Nine points from four away games, one from four at home. Mainz have won 5-0 in Hamburg, 4-3 in Mönchengladbach and 1-0 on Schalke, and at the Mewa Arena they have drawn with Paderborn and lost to Frankfurt, Leverkusen and Werder Bremen, conceding ten.
Bayern should win comfortably, against a Mainz side that has let goals in at home faster than it can score them.
The ground used to be the hard part of Bayern's season. Mainz beat them 2-1 there in December 2024, and Bayern have not lost away from home since: 30 matches, 22 of them won. In April Mainz led 3-0 at half-time with Bayern yet to put a shot on target, and Bayern scored four in the second half after Vincent Kompany sent on Harry Kane and Michael Olise.
What Mainz bring to Saturday is a defence rebuilt again. Stefan Posch was sent off in stoppage time of the 4-1 defeat at Elversberg, Phillipp Mwene has collected his fifth booking and Dominik Kohr is out after an ankle operation. Elversberg were 3-0 up by half-time, three days after second-division Bochum had put Mainz out of the cup, and three defeats in a row have cost Urs Fischer's side nine goals.
Bayern come without Kompany, who collapsed at the training ground on 23 October and was diagnosed with meningeal irritation. Aaron Danks has led the side since: three wins and a draw, the draw at Dortmund settled by an equaliser in the 89th minute. Danks said this week that Kompany is on course for a full recovery, with no date set for his return, and that Jamal Musiala, back in team training, is not ready for this one.
Mainz have shown twice on this pitch that they can score against Bayern. With Posch, Mwene and Kohr gone, the half they need is the one they lost in April.
