Mainz host Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga on Saturday afternoon with the hope that they will win their first Bundesliga home game and push on into the top four.

Mainz 

Mainz have started very strongly into the season and sit in fifth place after an away win against Schalke but they are yet to convince at home.

Their start to the season has been hugely helped by one player - Phillip Tietz. The German striker has five goals from the first six league games and has scored in all but two this campaign.

By contrast, Tietz now already has one less goal than he managed in the entire 2025-26 Bundesliga campaign on matchday seven. 

Mainz have the upper hand defensively against Saturday's opponent too as they have managed three clean sheets this campaign already. 

In spite of this, Werder Bremen will be comforted by the fact that when Mainz do concede the goals start pouring in.

In the games during this campaign where Mainz has conceded, all their opponents have managed to score at least three goals against them in the Bundesliga.

Mainz have only won once in their last five games against Werder Bremen with their last home win coming back in 2020.

Mainz's secondary striker Sheraldo Becker has been the second fastest player this season in the Bundesliga with a top speed of 36.6 km/h.

Ahead of the tie, Mainz coach Urs Fischer said: “The entire Bremen side makes a very strong impression. On three occasions they have been 2-0 down and they have come back.”

Team news

Dominik Kohr is out with an ankle injury alongside Otto Ruoppi and Silas who are also injured. 

Robin Zentner continues to be out with a hand issue and will be replaced by Alexander Schwolow.

Werder Bremen 

With their third consecutive game coming from two goals down to grab a result, Werder Bremen drew 2-2 with Paderborn after being 2-0 down securing their status as the comeback kings.

Helping out in this run has been the return to form of striker Niclas Füllkrug who is the Bundesliga's top scorer with six goals. 

His return to Werder Bremen on loan has helped to revive his career after leaving the club in 2023 to then have mixed spells at Dortmund (where he left after a year), West Ham and AC Milan on loan.

However, it has not just been Füllkrug who has made Bremen's attack one to be feared this season as Marco Grüll has set up four goals and sits as the league's highest assister. 

Despite the attacking power, Bremen have been vulnerable at the back in conceding 12 goals and are yet to keep a clean sheet this season.

Sitting in 8th place, they will leapfrog Mainz if they manage to grab all three points away from home on Saturday for the first time this Bundesliga season.

Before the game, Bremen coach Daniel Thioune said: “Mainz defend a lot with a low block and are very physical and strong. We have to be at 100 percent.”

Team news

Felix Agu, Moussa N'Diaye, Jens Stage, Skelly Alvero, Salim Musah, Niklas Stark, Keke Topp and Justin Njinmah make for a lenghty injury list for Werder Bremen. 

Senne Lynen is also a doubt for the tie.