Can BVB continue their "Mainz-Run"?

How Things Stand: BVB have won eight of their last nine duels with Mainz, who arrive at the Signal Iduna Park positioned fifth in the Bundesliga table, and who have only left the field of play once as the losing team in the second half of the season. Dortmund are unbeaten in eight games. Their last defeat was all the way back in the first half of the season.

Home and Away: Borussia Dortmund have won seven of their last eight home games, and have not been defeated in their last 16 home games stretching across seasons. Their last home defeat came on 4.4.2015, a 0-1 against Bayern Munich. Mainz 05 are sixth in the away-game-table, and have won in this half of the season against Munich as well as in Hannover. They have already won more away games this season (five times) than they managed in the entire 2014/15 season (three away wins).

Personnel: Sokratis (not match fit) is still not ready to return, while Bender is doubtful. Otherwise, Thomas Tuchel should have all other squad members at his disposal. The player availability situation looks somewhat different for Martin Schmidt: Donati (red card), Bungert (muscle problems), Berggreen (knee operation), Bengtsson, Muto, Klement, Soto (not match fit) will not be present.

Tactics: Borussia Dortmund are likely to line up in a basic 4-3-3 formation for Sunday's match. Mainz experimented successfully in Munich with a 5-4-1 variation. A repetition of this seems feasible, though they could also return to their more traditional 4-2-3-1.

Head to Head: 09 have conceded on average less than one goal a game against 05 (17 in 19) and have never lost after scoring the first goal of the game (seven wins, four draws). The points were shared in four of the first five home games against Mainz. More recently, however, Dortmund have won their last five home games against the men from Rheinhessen. They remain without victory in Dortmund! FSV have not played against any other club more frequently without at least having won once (nine matches, four draws, five defeats).

The Stats: No team has scored more goals than BVB (59 goals mean that Dortmund have scored 12 more goals than in the entire previous season). BVB have put three or more past their opponents in 12 matches this season – the league record! Only Bayern have conceded fewer goals (13/25). Mainz have lost the last six games in which they went 0-1 down. The last time they took points from a game in which they had trailed was on 18.9.2015, a 3-1 against Hoffenheim.

Highest Victory: With goals from Ebi Smolarek, Jan Koller and Lars Ricken, Borussia Dortmund won 3-0 in February 2005. The Black and Yellows tallied 31 shots on goal that day – the season record for 2004/2005.

Attendance: Another 800 tickets, mainly standing tickets, will be available for away fans on Sunday from 13.00 CET for areas of the north-stand. 1. FSV Mainz 05 will be supported by close to 3,500 fans.

Referee: Deniz Aytekin will take charge of a Bundesliga game involving BVB for the 16th time. The 37 year old entrepreneur hails from Oberasbach in Bavaria and officiates for TSV Altenberg. Christian Dietz and Benjamin Cortus will support him as linesmen. Sven Jablonski will act as fourth official.
Compiled by Boris Rupert