Schalke turnaround thanks to Grammozis?
FC Schalke 04 is only the second club in the long history of the Bundesliga to record less than ten points after 23 match days. With a disastrous record of only one win, six draws and already 16 defeats, the Royal Blues are logically at the bottom of the table in the Bundesliga and are already nine points behind the rescue bank.
During the week, many fans at least regained some hope that they would be able to avoid the threat of relegation to the 2nd Bundesliga after all, because of the personnel changes that have been made, including the repeated replacement of the coach. However, the appointment of Dimitrios Grammozis has not yet led the best bookmakers to adjust the odds on the outcome of the match between Schalke and Mainz on Friday evening.
The Gelsenkirchen side remains the clear outsiders after their last eight matches without a win in the league, but at the same time, they are aware of the importance of this match against their immediate neighbors in the standings, who must be beaten if the chaos club wants to make the impossible possible.
Despite the lack of form on the side of the bottom team, it should not be neglected when making a forecast for the Schalke vs. Mainz match that the Knappen do not like to score against any other team in Germany’s top division as much as they do against the Nullfünfer. In combination with the hoped-for impetus after the change of coach, the chances of S04 winning three points are certainly higher than in the previous week. Will Grammozis manage a kind of liberation blow on his debut?
Prediction & Live Odds for Schalke – Mainz 05/03/2021
The 24th matchday in the Bundesliga starts on Friday evening with the basement duel between the bottom and the second last in the table. Schalke receives Mainz. According to the betting odds, it is not surprising at first glance that the home side, who have only won once all season, is once again classified as underdogs.
On closer inspection, however, the probability of a Royal Blue victory this time is higher than it has been for a long time. This is primarily due to the personnel shake-up at the beginning of the week, when Grammozis was presented as Gross’ successor and the professionals were stripped of all their alibis.
At the same time, one of the Ruhr’s absolute favourite opponents awaits. Eleven wins in 14 home games and an average of 2.0 points underline the fact that FSV had little to report against S04 recently. Coupled with the Rheinhessen’s weakness away from home and the newly kindled fire at the Gelsenkircheners, we do not rule out a home win and will bet on a double chance on Schalke (1X) ✅ with odds of around 1.75 with our best betting partners you may find below:
Schalke – Statistics & current form
The Schalke season hit another low point last weekend. The team was beaten 1:5 by VfB Stuttgart and succumbed to its own fate in the final phase. From the point of view of the players, who were ready to start a mutiny against their coach, there was nevertheless something good about the heavy defeat, because Christian Gross was relieved of his duties as a logical consequence of the failure to perform. Sporting director Schneider, manager Riether, and the co- and athletics coach were also suspended.
At the same time, however, the Schalke board has taken away all alibis from the professionals. With the home match against Mainz 05, far from any much-discussed personnel issues, something like a turnaround or a new start should finally succeed. In order to spark euphoria and possibly prevent a bitter drop into the second division, a new coach was introduced at the beginning of the week in the form of Dimitrios Grammozis, who is seen as a long-term solution for the former Champions League participants even in the event of relegation.
The debut could hardly be more important for the German-Greek ex-professional, especially as a direct competitor awaits in the form of Rheinhessen. Although all the figures from the current season between Schalke and Mainz virtually prohibit a bet on the home side, there are one or two statistics that might give some encouragement to the long-suffering supporters of the Gelsenkircheners.
Mainz as favourite opponent for Königsblau
For example, the Malocherklub collected the most points (2.0) on average against FSV in the highest German division. The win rate of 59% is also higher than against any other team in the Bundesliga. In the Veltins Arena, the Nullfünfer have already conceded eleven defeats in 14 matches.
Because Grammozis, who is considered to be quite emotional, should be able to light a new fire in his team during the week, we think the odds on the home team in the Schalke vs. Mainz match are far more attractive. You can read about corresponding quotes, also on the three-way market, in the Wettbasis odds comparison.
We deliberately ignore the seasonal negatives such as the exemplary four goals scored in the last eight matchdays, the nine goals conceded in the last two games or the 24 goals already conceded after standards and focus on the “new” here and now with a new sporting leadership. They will have to do without the injured Boujellab, Fährmann, Huntelaar, Ludewig, Nastasic, Paciencia, Rönnow, Sané, Skrzybski and Uth on Friday.
Predicted Schalke line-up:
Mi. Langer – Becker, Thiaw, Mustafi, Kolasinac – Stambouli, Mascarell – Raman, Harit, S. Serdar – Hoppe
Mainz – Statistics & current form
FSV Mainz 05 had the wind taken out of their sails in the previous week. After seven points from three games and three wins from the last five games, the zero-fives missed a big point at home against their direct rivals from Augsburg. Instead of jumping to the save shore with a win, they suffered a 1-0 defeat, which has already increased the gap to the Fuggerstädter to nine points.
At best, the Rheinhessen side will want to redeem themselves for the blow on Friday and confirm the upward trend of recent weeks in the next six-point game at the Veltins Arena. Regardless of who the opponents ultimately are, a complicated task awaits coach Bo Svensson’s team, which has been unbeaten for two away games but has still been one of the weakest teams away from home throughout the season.
How does FSV handle the role of favourite?
In the eleven matches played in 2020/21, Mainz have only recorded nine points and conceded six goals. The 24 goals conceded are the second highest of all 18 Bundesliga teams. Only in the 0:0 against Hertha BSC did the FSV defence keep its clean sheet.
To make matters worse, the starting position in the bottom of the table has changed in that there is a certain amount of pressure on the zero-fives and expectations have risen in the Rheinhessen environment. It also remains to be seen to what extent the second-to-last team in the standings will get to grips with their status as favourites on Friday.
With the exception of Fernandes in midfield, all players are ready for action. Kohr could return to the starting eleven and newcomer Glatzel could also start for the first time.
Expected line-up of Mainz:
Zentner – St. Juste, Bell, Niakhaté – da Costa, Mwene – Kohr – Latza, Stöger – Glatzel, Onisiwo
