On Sunday evening, relegation rivals Koln and Mainz meet at the Rhein Energie Stadion, in a massive battle at the bottom of the Bundesliga.
Koln have dropped into the Bundesliga’s relegation play-off spot after a terrible run of league form, including failing to win in seven league games, while suffering five defeats.
The Billy Goats have been highly vulnerable in defence of late, as only rock bottom Schalke have conceded more goals in the German top-flight this season. Pair that poor defence with the third-worst strike force in the league and you end up with trouble.
One of the factors that will be highly concerning for anybody associated with Koln is their home record in recent seasons, as the home side has won just one of their last 18 Bundesliga matches on home soil.
In contrast to Koln’s poor recent form, Mainz head into this game on the back of a four-game unbeaten run in the German top-flight.
However, Bo Svensson’s team may have been slightly disappointed with a 1-1 home draw against fellow strugglers Arminia Bielefeld last time out, though.
However, overall Mainz have certainly been on an upward trajectory since Svensson took over as head coach. There is still work to do to vanquish the spectre of relegation, though, as the visitors are still only two points clear of both the relegation play-off spot and the final automatic relegation spot.
Mainz have made themselves hard to beat on their travels, as they head into this encounter on the back of just one away defeat in their last six away games. That run includes a four-game unbeaten run.
The visitors have also scored at least two goals in three of their last four away matches in the German top-flight.
Forebet predicts that this potentially vital clash will finish in a low-scoring draw, which would help neither team’s prospects of escaping the threat of relegation.