Krieschow vs Mainz 05 - prediction, team news, lineups

Kicking disconnected their competitory campaign, Mainz 05 volition question to instrumentality connected fifth-tier Krieschow astatine their Sportpark successful the archetypal circular of the DFB-Pokal on Sunday.

The hosts person struggled astatine the commencement of 2026-27, and Die Nullfunfer volition caput into the clash arsenic overwhelming favourites.

Match preview

Robert Koch's Krieschow are appearing successful the DFB-Pokal for the precise archetypal clip this weekend, and the juncture volition beryllium a peculiar 1 for the full 550-person village, which volition invited a assemblage of much than 7 times its colonisation to the game.

As an illustration of what this lucifer means, astir 50 volunteers worked to instal impermanent stands astatine the Sportpark, raising the ground's capableness to 4,000 successful bid to conscionable the requirements to big this necktie and debar a venue change.

Krieschow qualified for the archetypal circular by reaching the Brandenburg Cup final, wherever they beat Energie Cottbus 2-1 connected May 23 to assistance the trophy - different first.

However, portion the excitement astir Sunday's contention has taken implicit the section area, Koch's men volition footwear disconnected arsenic the underdogs, not lone owed to their fifth-tier status, but besides their lacklustre commencement to this season.

Kreischow person begun their 2026-27 league run with back-to-back defeats, losing 3-1 against Sandersdorf connected August 9, earlier being downed 1-0 by Meuselwitz past clip out.

To marque matters worse, the hosts person lone triumphed successful 1 of their past 5 location outings, losing twice, drafting twice, and failing to people much than erstwhile successful immoderate lucifer crossed that stretch.

Meanwhile, Urs Fischer transformed Mainz's fortunes aft taking the reins backmost successful December 2025, and pursuing an fantabulous pre-season, the manager volition beryllium hoping to marque a beardown commencement to the 2026-27 competitory calendar.

Die Nullfunfer went unbeaten passim this summer's affable schedule, winning 7 times and drafting erstwhile - 3-3 against Udinese connected August 1.

Fischer's broadside kicked disconnected their pre-season with a singular 11-0 triumph implicit Pfeddersheim connected July 4, and a 10-0 triumph against Eisbachtal 1 week later, showing nary mercy arsenic they racked up the goals.

However, Mainz's 4-0 thrashing of Ligue 1's Paris FC connected August 8 and 2-1 beating of Premier League nine Bournemouth past clip retired volition spell down arsenic their astir awesome feats, and those results are definite to springiness fans a assurance boost up of the caller campaign.

Bolstering that feeling of optimism further is the information that Die Nullfunfer recovered the backmost of the nett astatine slightest 3 times successful six of their 8 preparatory friendlies, and Sunday's DFB-Pokal showdown against fifth-tier absorption volition apt beryllium different high-scoring time out.

The visitors person besides tasted decision successful conscionable 1 of their past 11 distant matches, and thing different than progression to the 2nd circular volition spell down arsenic a large upset.

Krieschow signifier (all competitions):

Mainz 05 friendlies form:

Team News

Krieschow had centre-back Victor Habermann sent disconnected successful their astir caller league match, but considering that the suspension does not transportation implicit into the DFB-Pokal, helium looks acceptable to commencement alongside Alexander Bittroff astatine the bosom of the defence.

In midfield, Koch whitethorn opt for a pairing of Paul Pahlow and Colin Raak successful the centre of the park, with Toby Michalski and Luis Burger starting retired wide.

Elsewhere, Andy Hebler could instrumentality to the XI for Sunday's contest, forming a onslaught concern with Miguel Pereira Rodrigues that volition request to marque the astir of its constricted chances if the hosts are to person immoderate anticipation of progressing.

As for Mainz, they are missing Paul Nebel owed to a groin injury, arsenic good arsenic chap midfielder Eric Martel, who is sidelined with a genu contented erstwhile again.

In their absence, Fischer could proceed with Kaishu Sano successful the fig six role, flanked by wing-backs Anthony Caci and Phillipp Mwene, portion Nadiem Amiri and Sheraldo Becker run successful much attacking midfield roles.

Further forward, strikers Silas and Benedict Hollerbach are recovering from a breached ankle and Achilles wounded respectively, truthful expect to see Phillip Tietz joined up apical by Lee Jae-sung.

Krieschow imaginable starting lineup:

Fietz; Gerstmann, Bittroff, Habermann, Dressler; Michalski, Pahlow, Raak, Burger; Hebler, Pereira Rodrigues

Mainz 05 imaginable starting lineup:

Zentner; Kohr, Gruber, Costa; Caci, Sano, Mwene; Becker, Amiri; Tietz, Lee

We say: Krieschow 1-3 Mainz 05

Krieschow volition beryllium raring to spell connected what volition beryllium a peculiar juncture for the fifth-tier club, but adjacent keeping the scoreline respectable would beryllium seen arsenic a commendable outcome, fixed the level of absorption they are acceptable to face.

Mainz person been awesome successful pre-season, and considering their goalscoring grounds this summer, they should person much than capable firepower to advancement connected Sunday, adjacent if they concede connected the road.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.