FSV Mainz 05 vs Union Berlin

Union Berlin have only beaten 1. FC Köln more often (7 times) than they have Mainz 05 (6) in the Bundesliga. The two sides are meeting on matchday 1 for the second consecutive season: Union won 4-1 in Köpenick last term.

With just 33 points on the board, last season was Union Berlin’s worst Bundesliga campaign to date. They only avoided the relegation play-off thanks to their superior goal difference over VfL Bochum. Union failed to score on 17 occasions in 2023/24, a joint league high with last-placed SV Darmstadt.

1. FSV Mainz 05 have lost six of their last 10 opening games of a Bundesliga season (W3, D1), including last season at Union Berlin (4-1). Union are unbeaten in each of their last three matchday 1 fixtures (W2, D1), though this season is the first time they will start a top-flight campaign away from home (6th season).

1. FSV Mainz 05 are unbeaten in nine Bundesliga games (W5, D4) – only Bayer 04 Leverkusen (34) and RB Leipzig (11) are currently on longer undefeated runs. FSV conceded just five goals across the last nine matchdays of 2023/24, by far a league best during that period (Union shipped 17 goals during this time by comparison).

Mainz 05 are unbeaten in their last eight Bundesliga home games (W5, D3), scoring 17 goals and conceding just four during this run – only Bayer 04 Leverkusen (19) collected more points at home in that timeframe than Mainz (18). Only Leverkusen (18 BL games) and VfB Stuttgart (12) are currently on longer unbeaten runs at home than the 05ers.