On the euphoria after last weekends 2-1 win against Bremen people are seriously starting to see a consistency to BVB style of play and that has contributed to the form that is seeing them this end of the season challenging the top end of the table rather than fighting for survival as with the past few seasons.
This can all be attributed to one Jurgen Klopp the coach who in since coming from Mainz has instilled a sense of camaraderie and team ethic that has not only given the team and players confidence but has seen too each player playing with trust and belief in the tactics and decisions of the coach.
It is this style of play that BVB will take with them when they travel to Mainz on Saturday to play against the very club in which Klopp first demonstrated and tried out this style of coaching and play.
While now Mainz are under new tutelage of Thomas Tuchel it had been a good start to the season for them they have been difficult to break down at home this season, which is why any visiting team has found it hard to go there and get a result but come the second half of the season their form has tailed off and they have struggled to recreate early form, and one loss to them is sure to be their midfield lynch pin Andreas Ivanschitz who is out for the next 3 games due to suspension.
BVB on the other hand are again at full strength minus Kehl who is set to miss the rest of the season, but will be with their leading goalscorer Barrios who came through a midweek injury scare he is set to start as the lone striker , with Sahin set to partner Bender in the defensive midfield position , with Kuba , Grosskreutz and Zidan forming the rest of the midfield.
it will be an interesting game maybe an emotional one for Klopp where the home fans are sure to give him a warm welcome but the sentiment will stop the moment the game starts where it is every coach player and fan or themselves , will Mainz upset the BVB apple cart or will BVB roll over Mainz on the way to fighting to secure that European spot.
The starting line ups are set to be as follows :
1. FSV Mainz 05: Müller - Zabavnik, Svensson, Noveski, Fathi - Polanski, Karhan, Soto - Schürrle, Trojan - Bancé.
Borussia Dortmund: Weidenfeller - Owomoyela, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer - Bender, Sahin - Kuba, Zidan, Großkreutz - Barrios.
Kick off - 15.30 (cet) 14:30 (gmt)
Referee : Deniz Aytekin (Oberasbach).
Borussia Dortmund striker Nelson Valdez will have to miss the teams match against Bayern Munich next week. The Paraguayan international picked up his 5th booking of this season resulting in an automatic one match ban.
Valdez' suspension will no doubt cause Jurgen Klopp some problems as his team is already riddled with injuries at the moment.
