Bayer Leverkusen vs Mainz Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Bayer Leverkusen will hope to capitalise on playing an injury-ravaged Mainz at home.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – ESPN
How to watch online: UK – Not televised / US – ESPN+
Bayer Leverkusen preview: Struggle to find a balance
Many teams we talk about Bundesliga clubs struggling to balance domestic and European commitments and we’re seeing this once again with Bayer Leverkusen this month. Whilst taking on Olympiacos in a two-legged Champions League knockout phase play-off, Kasper Hjulmand’s side fell to defeat in the Bundesliga, losing 1-0 away to Union Berlin.
That loss was damaging in their battle to finish inside the Champions League spots for next season and with Leverkusen through to the round of 16 in that competition, Hjulmand will need to find a way of getting the best out of his squad for their Bundesliga matches alongside their European games.
Mainz preview: Two points above trouble
Just one point for Mainz in that last two league matches leaves them on 22 points for the season, having won just five of their 23 Bundesliga fixtures over the course of this campaign. Recent results leave them just two points above the bottom three as it stands with their mini-revival now in the rear-view mirror.
After being thrashed 4-0 away at Borussia Dortmund, Mainz had to settle for a 1-1 draw at home to newly promoted Hamburg despite leading the game at half-time and have now conceded 38 league goals in 2025-26 as it stands, with only seven clubs conceding more.
Bayer Leverkusen team news: Tillman could make it
Malik Tillman may shake off an ankle injury in time to play here, but the likes of Nathan Tella and Lucas Vazquez are out, as is Marc Flekken, with Janis Blaswich continuing to deputise in goal.
Predicted XI: (3-4-3): Blaswich; Quansah, Andrich, Tapsoba; Arthur, Fernandez, Garcia, Grimaldo; Tillman, Schick, Poku
Unavailable: Bade (Injured), Ben Seghir (Injured), Flekken (Injured), Tella (Injured), Vazquez (Injured)
Questionable: Tillman (Injured)
Mainz team news: Large list of missing players
Mainz are heavily weakened heading into their trip to the BayArena with several players injured and a number doubtful through illness such as Fabio Moreno Fell and Nelson Weiper.
Predicted XI: (3-5-2): Batz; Kohr, Posch, Potulski; da Costa, Lee, Sano, Amiri, Mwene; Silas, Tietz
Unavailable: Bell (Injured), Bos (Injured), Caci (Injured), Dal (Injured), Hanche-Olsen (Injured), Hollerbach (Injured), Kawasaki (Injured), Veratschnig (Illness), Zentner (Injured)
Questionable: Moreno Fell (Illness), Weiper (Illness)
Bayer Leverkusen vs Mainz prediction
Bayer Leverkusen cannot afford to underestimate Mainz, who only last month came away from the Red Bull Arena with three points after managing a shocking 1-2 win over RB Leipzig. They were sluggish in Berlin only a few days after a Champions League assignment and Mainz will be ready to take advantage if we see a repeat performance here.
But it’s more likely that Leverkusen produce a much-better showing this time around. Being at home helps their cause and when you also consider the string of absentees that Mainz are forced to deal with, the signs point to this being a match that ends in a Leverkusen win and a performance that Hjulmand can be happy about.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Mainz tip: Bayer Leverkusen to win
