Bristol City and Norwich should trade direct attacks with pressure down Bristol's left. Mainz and Bayern should have a different rhythm, with Bayern controlling territory and Mainz looking for wide releases and second balls. The key in both games is which side can make the next clean chance after the first save or goal.
Norwich's Stacey and Brooks can recycle attacks on Bristol's left, and Field and Wright have been regaining the second ball for another delivery. Bristol can break through Knight, Pring or a Twine restart, yet their home attack faded after taking the lead against Wolves while Norwich's current starters kept making box shots at Derby. Dickie, Adebayo, McLean and Mattsson have return reports without last-match minutes, so the case rests on the players already supplying chances. I'm siding with Norwich to find the more sustained winning attack.
Bayern's counterpress and box entries will test a reshuffled Mainz defence, but Mainz still have Amiri, Caci, Lee, Becker and Tietz to turn a wide release into a header or second chance. Posch and Mwene are suspended for this match; Bayern's likely rotation follows a demanding away schedule and is not a confirmed lineup. Mainz's recent heavy scores included penalties, a deflection and a poor clearance rather than repeated clean openings. I expect Bayern territory with a real Mainz reply, so I'm siding with Mainz to stay in the contest.
