Augsburg vs Mainz 05 Predictions, Betting Tips, & Match Preview

After four successful seasons under coach Makus Weinzierl, Augsburg turned a new page this summer with new coach Dirk Schuster arriving from Darmstadt 98 to replace the Schalke 04-bound tactician. Under Weinzierl’s leadership Augsburg succeeded in establishing themselves as a top flight side and were even able to participate in a memorable maiden UEFA Europa League campaign last season. Coach Schuster’s next step will no doubt be to try and establish Augsburg as top-ten material after their 12th placed finish last season. The host’s 2-1 win away to Werder Bremen last weekend will no doubt boost their confidence coming into this match, after their deflating 2-0 opening defeat at home to Wolfsburg. Icelandic striker Alfred Finnbogason, who scored seven goals in fourteen appearances for Augsburg last season, is yet to register a competitive goal since his loan move was made permanent.

Mainz, who qualified for the UEFA Europa League with a 6th placed finish in the Bundesliga last season, felt no need to make many changes over the summer period. Coach Martin Schmidt clearly trusts his already established squad which pushed them to their best league finish in years. Mainz have had a shaky start to their 2016/2017 campaign, scraping through their DFB Pokal first round match against fourth tier side SpVgg Unterhaching on penalties, losing 2-1 away to Borussia Dortmund in their opening Bundesliga match, and then squandering a 4-1 half-time lead in their 4-4 draw at home to Hoffenheim last weekend. Left back Gaetan Bussmann could be to blame. His 57th minute red card reduced them to ten men and saw Mainz’s efforts broken down with three goals in quick succession later into the match.

Augsburg against Mainz is a fixture which has, historically, been an entertaining affair for the neutral fan. Considering an average of 3.83 goals per game have been scored over the last six meetings between the two sides, the bookies price of 4/5 on over 2.5 goals seems really decent value and worth a punt in our opinion. Over 2.5 goals have also been scored in seven of Mainz’s last eight matches across all competitions and in four of Augsburg’s last seven home matches. Though Mainz are suffering from somewhat of an injury “epedemic”, they’ve clearly shown that,that doesn’t stop them from scoring, with four in the first half against Hoffenheim and one against a tough Borussia Dortmund back four. While Augsburg have marginally better current form than the visitors, their recent home form is much worse (see statistics). Given Mainz’s strong recent record against Augsburg (see head to head), we also find really decent value in the visitors for a correct score bet here.

As such, over 2.5 goals at 4/5 and Mainz to win 3-1 at 22/1 with bet365 are our choice bets for this match.