Injured Harry Kane out for Bayern Munich's clash against Mainz

Board member for sport Max Eberl has confirmed that a Kane return against Mainz on Saturday at Coface Arena is "probably not" going to happen, as the England captain continues to recover from a minor muscle strain sustained during the recent Borussia Dortmund match.

Despite his absence, Kane is progressing well but still faces a few more weeks of rehabilitation.

Kane's absence hasn't slowed Bayern's attack, with the team netting nine goals in their last two matches, a 4-2 win over Heidenheim and a dominant 5-1 victory against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League.

Bayern coach Vincent Kompany remains optimistic about Kane's recovery but remains realistic, noting that "we'd love to have him back sooner, but we have to be cautious with such a key player."

Meanwhile, Bayern's defensive vulnerabilities persist, as they have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last four games. This was evident in their recent 5-1 triumph over Shakhtar, where Kompany acknowledged the need for further defensive adjustments. "We can be dominant in attack but need to tighten up at the back," he said, adding that "we need to improve our concentration in crucial moments."

As Bayern prepare for their trip to Mewa Arena on Saturday, they face a Mainz side that have shown both resilience and fragility in their performances this season. Mainz are without key players Danny da Costa and Gabriel Vidovic due to injuries, which could further impact their defense.

Manager Bo Henriksen expressed disappointment following Mainz's 3-2 loss to Wolfsburg, highlighting the need for better defensive discipline. "We played good football, but we must be more solid defensively, especially in the final minutes," Henriksen noted.

Mainz's recent form at home has been mixed, securing two wins and a draw in their last three games at Mewa Arena. With a goal tally of 23 this season, they remain a potent attacking force, though consistency remains a challenge.

Bayern Munich, aiming to extend their lead at the top of the Bundesliga, will be without Kane and Kingsley Coman due to hamstring issues, but Kompany can still count on Jamal Musiala, Leroy Sane, and Michael Olise to support Thomas Muller up front. 

Daniel Peretz will start in goal as Manuel Neuer recovers from a rib injury. Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlovic are expected to anchor the midfield, with Joao Palhinha sidelined until mid-January due to a groin injury.

Bayern's visit to Mainz is an opportunity to assert their dominance in the Bundesliga, but they'll need to address their defensive lapses to keep their title challenge on track.