Mainz begin their 2026-27 Bundesliga campaign at home to promoted side Paderborn on Saturday, aiming to make a winning start for the first time since 2022.
Since beating Bochum 2-1 on matchday one of the 2022-23 season, the 05ers have struggled on the opening weekend of the competition, losing 4-1 to Union Berlin in 2023, drawing 1-1 with them the following year, and then going down 1-0 to FC Köln in 2025.
Thanks for the submission!
Now entering their 17th consecutive season in the German top flight, Mainz see head coach Urs Fischer start his first full season with the club after taking over the reins midway through last term.
Mainz were rooted at the foot of the table and facing relegation after winning just once from their opening 16 games but Fischer managed to anchor the sinking ship following a tough start to life that saw him fail to win his first three matches.
Paderborn are back in the Bundesliga for the first time since 2020 after qualifying via the 2. Bundesliga playoffs following a third-place finish in the regular phase of the league season.
The North-Rhine Westphalia club played Wolfsburg in the playoffs, drawing 0-0 in the first leg before a 2-1 extra-time win at home. Dzenan Pejcinovic’s third-minute opener for Die Wölfe was canceled out by Filip Bilbija in the 38th minute.
With no further goals to separate the sides, the match went into extra time, where Laurin Curda scored in the 100th minute to put Paderborn in front and eventually seal Bundesliga promotion after six years.
Recently, the side began their 2026-27 campaign with a thumping 4-2 win over Phönix Lübeck in the first round of the DFB-Pokal, sending a strong message to the league of what’s to come from them in the season ahead.
Mainz vs Paderborn Head-To-Head and Key Numbers
- The rivals have clashed only four times in history, with Mainz going unbeaten in all of them.
- The first encounter between Mainz and Paderborn ended 2-2 in August 2014, following which the former built a ruthless winning streak: 5-0 in January 2015, 2-1 in October 2019, and 2-0 in February 2020.
- Both teams made a winning start to their new campaigns, winning their respective cup games: Mainz won 9-0 vs Krieschow while Paderborn beat Phönix Lübeck 4-2.
Mainz vs Paderborn Prediction
Paderborn will be looking to make a statement in their first Bundesliga match since 2020 and have the attacking arsenal that can ruffle a few feathers in the Mainz half.
But the hosts are difficult to beat at home and should be able to see them off narrowly.
Prediction: Mainz 2-1 Paderborn
Mainz vs Paderborn Betting Tips
Tip 1 – Result: Mainz to win
Tip 2 – Goals over/under 2.5: Over 2.5 goals
Tip 3 – Both teams to score: Yes
Edited by Peter Pedroncelli