Bundesliga | Gameweek 17

Jan 14, 2025 at 7.30pm UK

BayArena

B. Leverkusen vs Mainz

Match preview

The hosts scored twice in the first eight minutes against Dortmund and were 3-1 up by the 19th minute, although it should be noted that they only had 30% of the ball, half 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 games, but on Friday they only managed a goal difference of 0.56.

Leverkusen kept just three clean sheets in their first 13 games in all competitions, but have since kept six clean sheets in 13 games.

The Schwarz-Roten are in excellent form, having won each of their last nine matches, with eight goals scored in their last two outings.

Alonso's side have been virtually flawless at home this season, winning 10, drawing two and losing just one of their 13 games at the BayArena in 2024/25, and are unbeaten in their last 11 matches at home.

Meanwhile, Mainz deserved all three points in their win over Bochum, especially given their first-half performance in which they limited Bochum to just one shot on target, creating two good 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 side are in fine form, having won six of their last seven Bundesliga games, with their last three wins by a combined score of 7-2.

Mainz have scored 30 goals and conceded just 20 in the Bundesliga, making them the fifth-best attacking and second-best defensive team in the division.

The visitors' away form has been somewhat mixed, with two wins, one draw and one defeat in their last four away games, although they have only been beaten once in eight away games this term.

Recent Performance

Bayer Leverkusen Bundesliga form:WWWWWW

Bayer Leverkusen form (all competitions):WWWWWW

Mainz 05 Bundesliga form:WWLWWW

Team News

Leverkusen's injury list is relatively light, but they will be without the services of strikers Amine Adli and Victor Boniface, who are due to make their comebacks from injury next month.

Florian Wirtz, who came off the bench last time out, is expected to start in attack alongside Nathan Tella and Patrik Schick.

First-choice centre-backs Edmond Tapsoba, Jonathan Tah and Piero Hincapie are all fit for Tuesday's clash, but defender Jeanuel Belocian is out with a cruciate ligament injury and will not return until September.

For Mainz, midfielder Nadiem Amiri is suspended, while Paul Nebel is likely to be sidelined until the end of February with a calf injury.

In their absence, Kaishu Sano and Dominik Kohr could be called upon to provide cover for centre-backs Danny Da Costa, Stefan Bell and Moritz Jenz.

Winger Gabriel Vidovic has also been ruled out, so Hyun-Seok Hong and Jae-sung Lee may be called upon to support striker Jonathan Burkardt.

Possible starting lineup

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