Our prediction for this Bundesliga match:
Opel Arena will host Saturday’s football game between Mainz and Leipzig, the two teams with entirely different ambitions in the remainder of the season. Mainz’s main goal is to secure the Bundesliga survival, while Leipzig are eager to put an end to Bayern Munchen’s dominance in the German top flight. Die Nullfunfer failed to impress in a 2-0 loss to Wolfsburg, with the team remaining in the relegation zone. Since Mainz have collected no more than seven points in total this season, home win should not be considered.
The Red Bulls aim to build on a hard-fought 1-0 win over Union Berlin. Leipzig are more of a team than Mainz, and we predict that the favourites are going to prove their worth on the field. Even though Hartmann, Henrichs, Konate, Laimer, and Szoboszlai are all sidelined with injuries for the visitors, we are tempted to put our money on the title-chasing side.
Highlighted Player (Jean-Philippe Mateta):
A talented French youngster Jean-Philippe Mateta worked his way up through football’s less glamorous landscapes plying his trade at local amateur sides and third-tier outfits before Ligue 1 giants Lyon took notice of his 11 goals in 22 matches and brought him to the big league.
Having failed to make it into the first team in a debut season with Les Gones, Mateta was shipped out to Le Havre, leading the club to promotion play-offs. Bundesliga side Mainz took notice of his ability and came calling in the summer of 2018 after he bagged 17 goals in 35 league matches. An imposing physical presence at his 192cm, Mateta is a mobile forward and a decent dribbler who can finish with both of his feet.
Having worked his way up from the very bottom, Jean-Philippe Mateta is a committed individual determined to make a name for himself. His impressive goalscoring record got rewarded in the form of France U19 call-up in 2017.
Highlighted Team (Leipzig):
Leipzig are a professional football club founded in 2009. Die Bullen (The Bulls) were unbeaten in the 2012/2013 Regionalliga Nordost and, as a result, they secured promotion to the 3. Liga. After finishing the 2013/2014 as 3rd. Liga campaign in second place in the standings, Leipzig were promoted to the 2. Bundesliga and they competed in the German second tier for two seasons.
Despite suffering a loss to Karlsruher on the last day of the 2015/2016 round in the 2. Bundesliga campaign, die Bullen secured promotion to the Bundesliga for the first time ever. Leipzig play their home games at Red Bull Arena (42,959) and it has to be noted that the stadium was opened in 1954.
Die Bullen wear white shirts and red shorts while their away kit is blue and yellow. Ralph Hasenhuttl was appointed as the team’s manager at the end of the 2015/2016 season and you should know that the likes of Ralf Rangnick, Achim Beierlorzer, Alexander Zorniger, Peter Pacult, Tomas Oral and Tino Vogel were in charge of the team in the past as well.