Mainz vs. Hoffenheim Betting Preview With Pick – Bundesliga, May 30

These clubs meet on Saturday, both in desperate need of points but for very different reasons. Mainz is deep in a relegation battle, while Hoffenheim has hopes of European qualification.

Results have been very average since the restart for both sides, so a good win at the Opel Arena could be just what is needed to herald a late-season surge. You can find my Mainz vs. Hoffenheim prediction and betting pick below.

Hoffenheim’s loftier standing in the Bundesliga is probably the main reason for BetOnline to make it the favorite for this game on Saturday. But as good as the win against Koln was in the week, there are still questions over the quality of this team in my opinion. Home advantage is not making much difference at the moment, but the odds for a draw look more inviting.

Although every point is valuable at this stage of the season, Mainz will feel as if it was more a case of two points lost from the draw with Union Berlin on Wednesday. Not only is Union a rival in the battle to escape relegation, but the Berlin club was forced to play with just ten men for half the game after Robert Andrich was sent off.

Both goals in the 1-1 draw had been scored by that point and Mainz manager Rouven Schroeder will be disappointed that his players could not take advantage of that, considering that the opponents had shipped four to Hertha in the Berlin derby just days before.

Hoffenheim is another team that has been surprised by the re-emergence of Hertha since the Bundesliga returned. But the 3-1 win over Koln in midweek will have settled a few nerves, thanks to a controlled performance that left the final result never really in doubt.

Israel striker Munas Dabbur returned for Hoffenheim on Wednesday and although he was unable to get on the scoresheet himself, he did turn provider for his teammates. His ability to find the net is already well proven, so he will be called upon to add to his tally if Hoffenheim is to manage a top six finish.

Hoffenheim improved from the poor showing against Hertha, but there is still a lack of fight in the team to convince me that it can beat its rivals to the Europa League spot. The win over Koln was the first in eight and their position in the league has more to do with inconsistency from others, in my opinion. Mainz is a weaker team on paper, but the need for points could even these two up on Saturday.

You can find our list of the best sites to wager on this match in our expert soccer guide.