Bayern Munich faces Mainz, aiming to end their DFB Pokal curse

This Wednesday, Bayern Munich travels to Mainz in the second round of the DFB Pokal, a high-stakes match. The Bavarian giant is anxious for a trophy it hasn't held since the 2019/20 season, while Mainz tries to find consistency in the Bundesliga. A mix of pressure and tradition-this match offers a good share of problems for both teams.

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Mainz: Fighting for Consistency and Coping with Injuries

Mainz goes into the match after an indecisive performance throughout the Bundesliga. Immediately, the winds of victory turn into a whirlpool of defeat. Having won only two out of their last nine matches, that fact already weighs heavily on coach Bo Henriksson's mind. Indeed, last Friday they opened the score against Borussia Mönchengladbach but soon saw their lead replied to-the goalkeeper Robin Zentner came big for what could have been even worse.

If consistency wasn't already an issue, now this coach is facing some pivotal absences. Jonathan Burkardt is a current top scorer of the team, and also a fresh addition to the German national squad, managed to pick up a muscle injury and won't be able to feature in this game. With his absence, Mainz's attack is much weaker; Henriksson needs to look for some options to replace him. Armindo Sieb, actually on loan from Bayern, may start, whereas Nelson Weiper is another option upfront.

Beyond Burkardt, there is also a question mark over the availability of Nadiem Amiri, who is struggling with an ankle injury. If he fails to make it, Dominik Kohr could slot in, with Danny da Costa and Stefan Bell coming in to bolster the backline. Such changes and reliance on younger backups may prove decisive, particularly against a Bayern Munich outfit that shows little mercy once an opponent's mistake has been exploited.

Bayern Munich: The Giant Thirsting for a Title

Bayern travels to Mainz full of confidence after their emphatic 5-0 Bundesliga win over Bochum. That result was important to restore smiles in camp after a Champions League defeat at the hands of Barcelona. With Vincent Kompany at the helm of affairs, there appears to be some level of balance and restored confidence in the squad, but they equally know the DFB Pokal is replete with its surprises.

This weird recent trend for the Bavarians includes having been knocked out in the second round a whopping three times over the course of the last four seasons. This is a shocking statistic for any club the size of Bayern, underlining the notion that total focus will be required in this game. Kompany does have reasons to feel optimistic, however. Harry Kane has outstanding form, having already scored 15 goals this season alone. He also has a good history when it comes to excellent performances against Mainz. Last season alone, he scored four goals against them.

In Bayern's favour, though, was the welcome return of Jamal Musiala after his hip injury. Kompany tinkered with some changes up front, including hauling the youngster into the lineup at Thomas Müller's expense, who sacrificed his No. 10 mantle, and it paid dividends. With such a tight schedule, rotation will be inevitable, and Kompany will doubtless lean on Leroy Sané, too, who fared equally well against Bochum.

For Bayern, the DFB Pokal has been that trophy that, though seemingly easily gotten, has in some way managed to stand in their way. The fact that, since their last triumph in 2019/20, they have been knocked out in three of the four versions that followed heaps additional pressure this time around. The fact that such renowned coaches like Hansi Flick, Julian Nagelsmann, and Thomas Tuchel were all knocked out in the second round really showed that in this competition, being in favor does not mean one will necessarily be successful.