FC Schalke 04 vs FSV Mainz 05: Bundesliga preview
Reviewed by Elison · Sat 17 Oct 2026Bundesliga
FC Schalke 04
FSV Mainz 05
Saturday 17 October 2026 · 15:30
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Schalke host Mainz at 15:30 on Saturday in a Bundesliga afternoon fixture that pits two sides travelling in rather different directions — Schalke looking to rediscover the tightness that has at least kept them from losing at home, Mainz hoping to carry their exceptional away form into another trip after a difficult run on their own ground.
Form guide
Schalke's last five results make for mixed reading. Their most recent outing was a 1-2 defeat away to SC Freiburg on 11 October. Before that, 21 days earlier, they drew 0-0 at home to SV Elversberg. Nine days before that home draw, they beat Union Berlin 3-1 away — their only win in the last five. Before that, six days earlier, came a goalless home draw with Bayern München, and six days prior to that they lost 0-3 away to FC Augsburg. The overall picture is one win, two draws and two losses from five, with four goals scored and six conceded across all five. The home record stands out: across their two home games in that run, Schalke kept two clean sheets and did not score — both ended 0-0. Their three away games brought the only win but also both losses, with four goals scored and six conceded. In the Bundesliga this season they sit 14th with five points from five games, averaging 0.80 goals scored and 1.20 conceded per game. Their xG across their last five matches averages 1.23 per game, against an average xG against of 1.95.
Mainz arrive with a volatile run of their own. Their most recent result was a 3-4 home loss to Bayer Leverkusen on 10 October. Twenty-one days before that, they won 4-3 away at Borussia Mönchengladbach. Seven days before that win, they lost 1-3 at home to Eintracht Frankfurt. Six days earlier they put five past Hamburger SV away from home, winning 5-0. And eight days before that, they drew 0-0 at home to SC Paderborn 07. Two wins, one draw and two losses from five, but the goals column is striking: 13 scored and 10 conceded across those five games. The split between home and away tells a compelling story — their two away games brought two wins, nine goals scored and only three conceded, while their three home games produced zero wins, four goals scored and seven conceded. In the Bundesliga they sit ninth on seven points from five games, scoring at an average of 2.60 per game and conceding 2.00. Their average xG across their last five matches is 2.36 per game, against an average xG against of 1.58.
Head to head
The two clubs have met five times in recent competitive history, and Schalke have the better of it: two wins for Schalke, none for Mainz, and three draws, with ten goals scored across those five meetings and both teams scoring in two of them. The three most recent meetings tell the same story — two Schalke wins and a draw, with six goals in total and both teams scoring in one of those three. Most recently, in May 2023, Schalke won 3-2 away at Mainz. Before that, in November 2022, Schalke won 1-0 at home. Earlier still, in March 2021, the sides drew 0-0 at Schalke’s ground. In November 2020, Mainz and Schalke drew 2-2 at Mainz, and in February 2020 the two sides played out a goalless draw at Mainz. Mainz are yet to beat Schalke in any of these five meetings.
Team news
Schalke have one player ruled out and another doubtful. Sylla misses out with a leg injury, while Ljubičić is doubtful with a knee injury. Sylla has made five appearances this season, contributing a goal and an assist, while Ljubičić has started all four of his appearances and scored once.
Mainz are without four players. Kohr is ruled out with a foot injury and had contributed an assist in two appearances this season. Ruoppi is also ruled out with a knee injury; he had provided two assists from four appearances. Zentner misses out with a hand injury, having started all three of his appearances. Silas is ruled out with a broken shinbone.
What to watch
The most striking contrast in this fixture is the home-and-away split on both sides. Schalke have not been beaten at home in their last two home games, but they have not scored there either — two clean sheets and zero goals, suggesting a team that can absorb pressure but struggles to create at home, with xG figures of 0.21 and 1.01 in those two matches. Mainz, on the other hand, have been remarkable on the road, averaging 4.50 goals scored per away game. That is a dramatic contrast with their home record — none of their three home games this season has ended in a win.
Both teams scored in two of the five previous meetings, while in the other three at least one side failed to score. Mainz’s goals-heavy away performances suggest that pattern could be tested this time.
Absences may play a part too. Schalke are short of a player who has contributed both a goal and an assist in five appearances this season in Sylla, and Ljubičić — also a scorer this season — is a doubt.
The bookmakers make Mainz a 42% chance of winning, Schalke 31%, and a draw 27%. The market leans towards goals: the chance of over 2.5 goals is put at 58%, and both teams scoring at 62%.
Closing
Saturday’s game sets Schalke’s stubborn home defensive record against Mainz’s explosive away form — a clash of contrasting patterns that makes the afternoon’s outcome genuinely difficult to call. With both sides carrying absences and Mainz yet to win any of these last five meetings, there are reasons for caution on either side; but the sheer volume of goals Mainz have produced away from home this season ensures there is plenty to look forward to when these two meet.
