A 4-0 defeat to your fiercest rivals and a 5-0 home drubbing by a side that have already scored eight past you this season. That is how Union Berlin and Mainz fared in their last matches as their return to Bundesliga action continued to impress.

After an impressive late late winner against Hertha earlier in the season, Union headed across the capital in hopes of surprising their rivals once more, but a chastening defeat means they will go back to the drawing board. They face a Mainz side still red faced after RB Leipzig ran rings around them at the Opel Arena on Sunday. 

Die Eisernen have now lost three in a row in the Bundesliga for the third time this season and are at risk of being dragged into the relegation battle, while Mainz head to Der Stadion An der Alten Forsterei four points above the play-off spot, thanks in part to Köln's two late goals goals to draw with Fortuna Düsseldorf on Sunday evening - Fortuna's win would have reduced the gap to two.

  • Current Form

Union: WDLLL

Mainz: LWDDL

  • Team News

Union boss Urs Fischer is set to recall defender Kevan Schlotterbeck after suspension, while veteran midfielder Christian Gentner is also in line for a return. 

For Mainz, Die Nüllfunfer have a full complement of players after making it through 90 minutes without any injuries against Leipzig. Jean Phillipe Mateta could be handed a first start since the return after starting from the bench on Sunday. 

  • Previous Meetings

This season's earlier fixture, which finished 3-2 to Union, was the first match between the two since 2004 when both sides were in the 2.Bundesliga. Union led 3-0 thanks to a Daniel Brosinki own goal and a brace from Sebastian Andersson, before Karim Onisiwo - and Brosinski at the right end - pulled the deficit back to one. 

Mainz 2-3 Union

Union 1-1 Mainz

Mainz 2-1 Union

Mainz 1-0 Union

Union 0-2 Mainz

  • How to watch and stream

The game is available to viewers in the United Kingdom from 19.15 BST on Sunday on BT Sport 2, as well as being able to stream on the BT Sport app.

As well as this, VAVEL UK will have LIVE minute-by-minute updates of the game, with pre-match build-up throughout the evening.

  • Predicted Line Ups

Union: Gikiewicz, Subotic, Schlotterbeck, Friedrich, Reichel, Andrich, Gentner, Trimmel, Bütter, Malli, Andersson.

Mainz: Müller, Baku, Niakhate, St Juste, Brosinski, Böetius, Latza, Kunde, Oztunali, Quaison, Mateta.

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