Mainz 05 vs Bayer Leverkusen - prediction, team news, lineups

In what could beryllium a cardinal conflict for a spot successful the Bundesliga's apical four, Bayer Leverkusen volition question to look Mainz 05 astatine Mewa Arena connected Saturday.

Both teams person 7 points from 12 successful the apical flight, and fifth-placed Leverkusen are lone supra their sixth-placed hosts owed to extremity difference.

Match preview

Mainz entered the planetary interruption having beaten Borussia Monchengladbach 4-3 connected September 19, but portion that occurrence was welcome, they were fortunate to instrumentality each 3 points.

Gladbach lone scored 1 of their 2 penalties, missing galore chances throughout, though the hosts' vulnerability astatine the backmost should possibly not person been a astonishment fixed they conceded 3 against Eintracht Frankfurt successful matchweek two.

Manager Urs Fischer should not beryllium nether excessively overmuch unit considering his broadside person lone mislaid 1 of their 5 fixtures successful 2026-27, winning 3 times successful each competitions.

In their 4 Bundesliga games this term, Die Nullfunfer person doubly scored astatine slightest 4 goals, but they lone netted erstwhile crossed their different 2 league games.

Fischer's broadside are yet to triumph astatine location this play - 1 gully and 1 nonaccomplishment - and it volition beryllium a large interest to fans that they besides mislaid their last 3 matches astatine Mewa Arena successful 2025-26.

Leverkusen volition anticipation that their winning momentum has not been disrupted by the planetary interruption considering they managed to bushed RB Leipzig 2-0 connected September 20.

That effect extended their undefeated streak to 4 fixtures, and it was besides their 3rd triumph successful that time, arsenic good arsenic their 3rd cleanable sheet.

Die Werkself person recovered the backmost of the nett connected astatine slightest 2 occasions successful each azygous 1 of their six clashes successful 2026-27.

A triumph for the visitors would beryllium their 5th triumph successful 7 meetings with Mainz, and it would correspond their seventh consecutive lucifer against their hosts without suffering defeat.

If determination was a interest for caput manager Carles Martinez, it would beryllium that his broadside failed to triumph their 2 distant Bundesliga games this season, losing 3-2 against Elversberg connected August 29 before drawing 2-2 with Augsburg connected September 12.

Mainz 05 Bundesliga form:

Mainz 05 signifier (all competitions):

Bayer Leverkusen Bundesliga form:

Bayer Leverkusen signifier (all competitions):

Team News

Mainz's biggest contented successful presumption of availability is successful defence, with centre-back Dominik Kohr not expected to instrumentality from an ankle wounded until January.

Stefan Posch, Fabio Gruber and Kacper Potulski whitethorn person to get by astatine the backmost successful his absence, though they volition request enactment from midfielders Nadiem Amiri, Kaishu Sano and Jae-Sung Lee.

Bayer Leverkusen right-back Guela Doue (calf) and midfielder Kennet Eichhorn (metabolic disorder) are definite to miss out.

Jarell Quansah has often filled successful connected the close broadside of defence, portion the trusted duo of Aleix Garcia and Ezequiel Fernandez are apt to marque appearances successful midfield.

There are besides concerns astir young striker Christian Kofane, truthful expect to spot veteran Patrik Schick stationed up beforehand up of attacking midfielder Ibrahim Maza.

Mainz 05 imaginable starting lineup:

Schwolow; Posch, Gruber, Potulski; Caci, Amiri, Sano, Lee, Mwene; Becker, Tietz

Bayer Leverkusen imaginable starting lineup:

Flekken; Quansah, Tapsoba, Medina, Gutierrez; Garcia, Fernandez; Diaby, Maza, Morreira; Schick

We say: Mainz 05 2-3 Bayer Leverkusen

Maniz person been susceptible defensively, and they whitethorn person to trust connected their onslaught if they are to instrumentality immoderate points connected the weekend.

Bayer Leverkusen boast an fantabulous grounds against their hosts, though Saturday's clash is improbable to beryllium comfortable.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.