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Leverkusen logo
Bundesliga | Gameweek 17
Jan 14, 2025 at 7.30pm UK
BayArena
Mainz logo

B. Leverkusen
1 - 0
Mainz

Grimaldo (48')
Mukiele (69'), Xhaka (87')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Sieb (17'), Bell (51'), Caci (68'), Sieb (90+1')

Preview: Bayer Leverkusen vs. Mainz 05 - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Tuesday's Bundesliga clash between Bayer Leverkusen and Mainz 05, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Bayer Leverkusen will hope to continue applying pressure to first-placed Bayern Munich when they host Mainz 05 at BayArena on Tuesday in their 17th Bundesliga game of the season.

The champions are second with 35 points, four behind leaders Bayern, after beating Borussia Dortmund 3-2 on Friday, whereas their opponents are in fifth place with 28 points and triumphed 2-0 against VfL Bochum on Saturday.


Match preview

Granit Xhaka of Bayer Leverkusen during his side's Champions League match against RB Salzburg, on November 26, 2024© Imago

The hosts scored twice against Dortmund in the first eight minutes of their clash and were leading 3-1 by the 19th minute, though it should be noted that they only accumulated 30% possession, half of their season average of 60.2%.

Manager Xabi Alonso praised his players' discipline against BVB, telling reporters: "We did it well with the ball but we also did it really well without the ball. We did not concede much. It is a development of our game that we can compete in this way, to play here with this discipline against a top, top team in Europe."

Dortmund had not been beaten at home in the Bundesliga in their previous 11 league games but only created a non-penalty xG total of 0.56 on Friday.

Leverkusen only kept three clean sheets in their first 13 games in all competitions, but they have since kept their opponents from scoring six times in 13 matches.

Die Schwarzroten's form has been outstanding considering they have triumphed in each of their last nine fixtures, scoring eight goals in their two most recent games.

Alonso's side have almost been flawless at home this season, with the club winning 10, drawing two and losing just one of their 13 outings at BayArena in 2024-25, and his team are also unbeaten in their 11 most recent matches at home.

Mainz players celebrate scoring on November 24, 2024© Imago

Meanwhile, Mainz thoroughly deserved to claim all three points when they beat Bochum, especially given the victors' first-half showing in which they limited Bochum to just one shot while creating two big chances and producing 1.4 xG.

Boss Bo Henriksen thought that his side could have played even better in the first 45 minutes but praised his players for their execution of his tactical plan, saying: "We put together a good plan – knew that it would depend a lot on long balls and second balls. We defended very, very well.

"The first half was quite difficult for us. We were better in the second half, also with the ball. Of course, we are satisfied with the performance and the result. It was only after 70 minutes that we allowed the first chance to score."

Henriksen's team are in fine form considering they have emerged victorious in six of their last seven Bundesliga games, winning their three most recent matches by a cumulative score of 7-2.

Having scored 30 goals and conceded 20 times in the Bundesliga, Mainz rank as the division's joint fifth-best offensive and joint second-best defensive team.

The visitors' form away from home is somewhat mixed considering they have won two, drawn one and lost one of their past four outings on the road, though they have only been beaten once in their eight fixtures away from home this term.

Bayer Leverkusen Bundesliga form:


Bayer Leverkusen form (all competitions):


Mainz 05 Bundesliga form:


Team News

Dominik Kohr of Mainz 05 on January 4, 2025© Imago

Leverkusen's injury list is relatively small, but they will still be unable to call upon forwards Amine Adli and Victor Boniface, who will make their comebacks from injury next month.

Florian Wirtz came on from the substitutes' bench last time out, but he can be expected to play in attack alongside Nathan Tella and Patrik Schick.

Regular centre-backs Edmond Tapsoba, Jonathan Tah and Piero Hincapie are all fit to start on Tuesday, although defender Jeanuel Belocian has suffered a cruciate ligament injury and will not return until September.

As for Mainz, midfielder Nadiem Amiri is suspended, while Paul Nebel is likely to be unavailable until late February due to a calf injury.

Given their absence, Kaishu Sano and Dominik Kohr may be trusted to shield centre-backs Danny Da Costa, Stefan Bell and Moritz Jenz.

Winger Gabriel Vidovic has also been ruled out, so perhaps Hyun-Seok Hong and Jae-sung Lee will support striker Jonathan Burkardt.


Bayer Leverkusen possible starting lineup:
Hradecky; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Xhaka, Andrich, Grimaldo; Tella, Wirtz; Schick

Mainz 05 possible starting lineup:
Zentner; Da Costa, Bell, Jenz; Caci, Sano, Kohr, Mwene; Hong, Lee; Burkardt


SM words green background

We say: Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 Mainz 05

Mainz are unlikely to be beaten easily on Tuesday, and it would not be surprising if the game was a closely fought contest.

Leverkusen should be considered slight favourites given their excellent home record, and they could find joy during counter-attacks if Mainz are forced to push further forward in the event that the hosts take the lead.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


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Written by
Lewis Nolan

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Game History

How you voted: B. Leverkusen vs Mainz

Bayer Leverkusen
Draw
Mainz 05
Bayer Leverkusen
84.1%
Draw
10.3%
Mainz 05
5.6%
126
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Bayern MunichBayern28215281275468
2Bayer LeverkusenB. Leverkusen28188263342962
3Eintracht FrankfurtFrankfurt28146855421348
4Mainz 05Mainz28137846321446
5RB Leipzig2812974435945
6Borussia MonchengladbachBorussia M'bach28135104541444
7Freiburg28126103844-642
8Borussia DortmundDortmund28125115243941
9Stuttgart28117105144740
10Werder Bremen28116114553-839
11Augsburg2810993139-839
12Wolfsburg28108104942738
13Union BerlinUnion Berlin2896132640-1433
14Hoffenheim2869133452-1827
15St Pauli2875162334-1126
16Heidenheim2864183253-2122
17VfL BochumVfL Bochum2855182859-3120
18Holstein Kiel2846183968-2918


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