1 Fsv Mainz 05 vs Bayern Munich Prediction & Betting Tips - DFB Pokal

Prediction published on 30/01/2023, 13:00  by Devesh Jaganath | Modified on 30/01/2023 at 14:49 in DFB Pokal Predictions

The DFB-Pokal has reached the final 16 teams, and in our featured match, we will see league leaders Bayern Munich travel to the Opel Arena to lock horns with mid-tabled Mainz as they look to regain the cup that they last won in the 2019/20 season. However, the German Champions have been well below their exceptionally high standards recently after registering their third successive draw since the World Cup break against Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend. Bayern has seen their lead at the top of the Bundesliga cut to a single point with Union Berlin breathing down their necks. RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund, and Freiburg are also within striking distance, with all of them being three points or less off the leaders. Anything other than a win will definitely see the pressure mount on Julian Nagelsman, but a break from league competition and a win could be just what Bayern need to get their season back on track.

Mainz is trying to accomplish something that they have never been able to do in their history, which is winning the DFB Pokal. Their best-ever finish came in the 2008/09 season when they managed to reach the semi-final which Bayer Leverkusen eventually knocked them out of. Mainz was also on a poor run of form on either side of the World Cup break, winless in six matches, before managing to put an end to the rot last weekend by overcoming Vfl Bochum 5-2. That win took them to 11th in the league, with 23 points in 18 matches, seven clear of relegation and nine behind the top six. Mainz have given Bayern a good run in recent times, winning two and losing three of their last five encounters. They will hope to capitalize on the defending league champions' recent stumbling form and will want to produce what would be a huge result in front of their home fans.