Bayern in Mainz for all-Bundesliga cup tie

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Mainz's biggest problem this season has been consistency. Since beating 3. Liga's Wehen Wiesbaden 3-1 after extra-time in the DFB Cup first round, the 05ers have won two, drawn three and lost three in the Bundesliga. They took the lead at home to Borussia Mönchengladbach on Friday, only to concede a Tim Kleindienst equaliser soon after. But for some brilliant goalkeeping from Robin Zentner, the result could have been far worse. More concerning for head coach Bo Henriksson, though, was the sight of six-goal top scorer Jonathan Burkardt being forced off with a muscular problem. The striker was recently rewarded for his fine domestic from with his first senior Germany caps but is now set for another spell on the sidelines following a number of injury setbacks down the years. Bayern-owned Armindo Sieb - who was his replacement on Friday - could come in to start. Nelson Weiper is another option in attack, while the likes of Danny da Costa and Stefan Bell could be cycled in to the defence, especially if Dominik Kohr is moved forward in the event of Nadiem Amiri not overcoming an ankle issue in time.

Bayern head to Mainz buoyed by a comfortable 5-0 win at lowly Bochum. England's Harry Kane scored his 15th competitive goal of the campaign as the record champions bounced back from a chastening UEFA Champions League loss to Barcelona, retaking their place at the top of the Bundesliga on goal difference in the process. It was their eighth win in 12 games under head coach Vincent Kompany - a run that began with a 4-0 victory over Bundesliga 2's Ulm in the cup. The Belgian welcomed back Jamal Musiala to the starting XI from hip issue for the Bochum game, with Thomas Müller sacrificed in the No.10 role. The young playmaker's minutes may be managed given the packed calendar. There could also be a first start of the season for Leroy Sané, who also scored on Sunday. Aleksandar Pavlović is definitely out with a dislocated shoulder.

Watch: Bayern too good for Bochum

Match stats

• Amiri has three goals and two assists in his last six DFB Cup games. He also scored Mainz’s consolation when they last faced Bayern (March’s 8-1 thrashing in Munich).
• This is Mainz’s first home cup tie since February 2023 when they were beaten 4-0 by Bayern. The 05ers have lost all three cup fixtures against the Bavarians.
• Mainz have lost six of their last nine appearances in the second round.
• Kane scored more Bundesliga goals against Mainz last season than any other club (four), including one of his six German top-flight hat-tricks in the 8-1 win.
• Müller is set to make his 67th DFB Cup appearance for Bayern, going level with Manfred Kaltz’s total for Hamburg. Only Karl-Heinz Körbel has played more cup games for a single club (70 for Eintracht Frankfurt).
• Bayern have fallen in the second round in three of the last four seasons – more than any other club in that time – having always gone further in the previous 19 years. Hansi Flick, Julian Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel all lost their first second-round tie in charge.

Probable teams

Mainz: Zentner - Caci, Jenz, Leitsch - Widmer (c), Sano, Kohr, Mwene - Nebel, Lee - Weiper
Out: Burkardt (muscular), Hanche-Olsen (broken toe)
Doubtful: Amiri (ankle), Onisiwo (thigh), Veratschnig (muscular)
Coach: Bo Henriksen

Bayern: Neuer (c) - Laimer, Upamecano, Dier, Davies - Kimmich, Goretzka - Sané, Müller, Tel - Kane
Out: Boey (knee), Pavlović (collarbone), Stanišić (knee)
Doubtful: Ito (foot)
Coach: Vincent Kompany

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