Bayer Leverkusen vs Mainz 05

Bayer Leverkusen’s Bundesliga title defense continues at the BayArena with a tricky encounter against surprise package Mainz 05. 

Bayer Leverkusen picked up where they left off at the tail-end of 2024, beating Borussia Dortmund 3-2 in their first match of 2025 to stay within a four-point distance of Bundesliga pacesetters Bayern Munich. That was Leverkusen’s sixth consecutive league victory as Xabi Alonso’s men bid to defend their crown against the odds. Those triumphs form part of a remarkable 14-game unbeaten streak in top-flight action (W9, D5), underscoring the home side’s status as overwhelming pre-match favorites. Adding to this tag, ‘Die Werkself’ haven’t tasted defeat in their last 12 Bundesliga matches at the BayArena (W10, D2). Furthermore, they defeated upcoming rivals Mainz in both league H2Hs in 2023/24 via a combined score of 5-1. Yet, a 2-1 win in this corresponding fixture last term remains one of Leverkusen’s only two victories in their four most recent home meetings (D1, L1).

On the other hand, Mainz’s remarkable domestic form continued at the start of 2025 as they eased past relegation-threatened Bochum (2-0) to make it three Bundesliga wins in a row for the second time this term. In fact, Bo Henriksen’s men have won six of their last seven league outings (L1), earning a tag as ‘giant slayers’ in the process. Indeed, they put the likes of Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and Eintracht Frankfurt to the sword in that sequence, scoring 2+ goals against each. With the optimism sky high, ‘Die Nullfünfer’ enter this round only two points adrift of fourth-placed RB Leipzig, largely thanks to an incredible away league record in 2024/25 (W4, D2, L1). Yet, they’ve alternated between winning (3) and not (D1, L1) across their last five Bundesliga matches, netting precisely three goals in each victory!