Bundesliga: Leverkusen to Put Mainz in its Place

Bayer Leverkusen vs FSV Mainz 05

Fourth plays fifth at the BayArena on Saturday when Mainz 05 travel to Leverkusen to take on Bayer in a fascinating Bundesliga clash.

Only goal difference separates the two teams in the league table as they are both locked on 10 points, and that’s no real surprise for a Leverkusen side used to living among the elite at the top end of the league.

But for Mainz, it represents a welcome change for a side that has hovered just above the drop zone over the past five seasons and only survived last term thanks to a miraculous final few weeks.

Die Nullfunfer arrive at the BayArena with 10 points from the last four games and they will play without fear, but this match is a good chance for Die Werkself to show they belong in the top four and pose some tough questions for their ambitious visitors.

Talking Points

Leverkusen’s sharp cutting edge

Leverkusen have had some brilliant strikers in recent seasons, notably Kai Havertz who now plies his trade with Chelsea in the Premier League. And current Bayer forward Patrik Schick is well known to SBOTOP football fans after he had a storming Euro 2020, scoring five goals for the Czech Republic including a stunning 45-yard goal against Scotland.

With four goals already this season, Schick is carrying on where he left off at the Euros and he has a talented hitman alongside him in the form of ex-PSG striker Moussa Diaby, who has three goals to his name.

But head coach Gerardo Seoane looks to have found a real gem to support his strikers in young midfield star Florian Wirtz. He has three goals and three assists already this season and he put in a man-of-the-match performance in Die Werkself’s 1-3 win away to Stuttgart.

The 18-year-old scored one goal and set up Schick for another to inspire Bayer to victory despite going down to 10 men midway through the first half.

Defensive midfielder Robert Andrich scored a second-minute header to give Die Werkself the perfect start and Schick doubled the lead on 20 minutes, slotting home a perfect cross from Wirtz.

It looked like plain sailing until Andrich was red-carded for a rash tackle and, soon after, Stuttgart halved the deficit but Wirtz settled any Leverkusen nerves with a cool finish to make it 3-1.

Bundesliga: Bayer Leverkusen will host Mainz 05 at BayArena — Robert Andrich walks off the pitch after being sent off during Bayer Lverkusen’s match against VfB Stuttgart

Leverkusen lost a seven-goal thriller against Borussia Dortmund recently but that is the only blemish on an impressive start to the season, including winning a Europa League clash against Ferencvaros.

Mainz maintaining momentum

After finishing the 2020/21 league strongly, climbing up to 12^th following a season struggling in a relegation battle, Die Nullfunfers have put in a superb set of Bundesliga 2021 results to kick off this campaign.

The key moment which changed Mainz’s fortunes last term was the January appointment of former 05 player Bo Svensson, and he has molded a team that exceeds to sum of its parts.

There are no big household names in the Mainz squad but they are an effective unit. At this stage last season, they were in bottom place on no points, so to sit in fifth place on 10 points is quite a turnaround.

A hard-fought match with Freiburg ended in a 0-0 draw last time out and it was frustrating for the boss who saw his side dominate long periods but without the cutting edge that Die Werkself has.

Mainz have shared their goals around with no one yet scoring twice. But with experienced striker Adam Szalai, they have a wily operator and Marcus Ingvartsen looks to be a good loan signing from Union Berlin.

Ingvartsen scored in Mainz’ 2-0 away win to Hoffenheim on their last trip on the road.

History

Leverkusen have had the better of their clashes with Mainz, but they haven’t had it all their own way, winning 16 to ten in the head-to=head meetings since 2004.

Last season, this fixture finished in a 2-2 draw as Mainz scored two late goals to share the spoils.

Recent form has been strong for both teams, with Leverkusen winning four of the last five while Mainz are unbeaten in four games.

Betting Tip

	Bayer Leverkusen vs FSV Mainz 05	Bayer Leverkusen Asian Handicap -0.50 @ 1.80
	September 25, 21:30 (GMT+8)

The Bundesliga 2021 betting odds are leaning towards the hosts who are at 1.77 to win the match, with the draw at 3.68 and Mainz at 3.78 to continue their impressive start to the campaign.

This promises to be a hard-fought clash and Mainz will be no pushover, but I think Bayer’s big players and a passionate home crowd will see the Die Werkself through.