Mainz vs Bayer Leverkusen Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Sarwar ·
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These two sides are currently sat next to each other in the table, neck and neck with seven points each as Mainz and Bayer Leverkusen collide.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / USA – ESPN
How to watch online: UK – Not televised / USA – ESPN+
Mainz preview: Thrilling triumph
Mainz went into the international break on a breathless high after defeating Borussia Monchengladbach 3-4 on the road. It was the perfect way to bounce back from Eintracht Frankfurt coming into Mainz and striding out with a 1-3 victory. It also kept Urs Fischer’s side inside the top six and those European places.
The Monchengladbach game saw Mainz only go behind once, early on in the game before answering back with two of their own before half-time. The hosts equalised in the second half before Mainz scored two more, to make Gladbach’s late penalty nothing more than a consolation.
Bayer Leverkusen preview: Statement win
Bayer Leverkusen needed a big win to inject some belief into their fans following an inconsistent start to the Bundesliga campaign. They got just that in the previous round of games, beating RB Leipzig by two goals to nil at the BayArena. Patrik Schick scored just before half-time before defender Miguel Gutierrez doubled the lead in the second half.
Goal difference is what currently keeps Leverkusen above Mainz and they have now won each of their first two home league fixtures without a conceding a goal, scoring six of their own. This match however, sees them on the road.
Mainz team news: Trio of doubts
Nebel, Widmer and Zentner are the current doubts for Mainz, who will definitely be without Kohr, Ruoppi and Silas due to groin, knee and hand injuries respectively.
Predicted XI (3-5-2): Schwolow; Posch, Gruber, Potulski; Caci, Amiri, Sano, Lee, Mwene; Becker, Tietz
Unavailable: Kohr (Injured), Ruoppi (Injured), Silas (Injured)
Questionable: Nebel (Injured), Widmer (Injured), Zentner (Injured)
Bayer Leverkusen team news: Three out
Doue and Kofane are both nursing injuries which will keep them out here, whilst illness sidelines Eichhorn. Beg Seghir and Culbreath are each doubtful but both could yet feature.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Flekken; Quansah, Tapsoba, Medina, Gutierrez; Garcia, Fernandez; Diaby, Maza, Morreira; Schick
Unavailable Doue (Injured), Eichhorn (Illness), Kofane (Injured)
Questionable: Ben Seghir (Injured), Culbreath (Injured)
Who will win this Bundesliga encounter?
Open poll and resultsMainz vs Bayer Leverkusen prediction
Two clubs full of confidence and both ready to fight hard to maintain their respective places in the top six. Bayer Leverkusen’s two previous games on the road have been end-to-end thrillers with nine goals scored and both teams in each fixture finding the net at least once. That suggests that we are likely to see plenty of goals again this time around.
Mainz at home will want to ram up that advantage of punish what has been some poor defending by Leverkusen away from the BayArena, whilst the hosts have now given up three goals in consecutive matches. All signs point to both teams scoring regardless of the final outcome, so backing this should be worthwhile.
Mainz vs Bayer Leverkusen tip: Both teams to score
