Home strong Mainz expect the ballers from the Rhine
After the European Cup is before the Bundesliga. During the week, the focus was on the Champions League and the other international competitions. Leverkusen had a game off because, as group winners of the Europa League, they don’t have to play again until the quarter-finals. This allowed the Werkself to concentrate completely on their next task in the Bundesliga at FSV Mainz 05.
The focus is particularly on Dominik Kohr. The midfielder comes from the Bayer youth team and is currently one of the guarantors when things are going well at Mainz 05. When Kohr has been in the starting eleven for the Rheinhessen side, there have only been three defeats in 24 games. He would like to continue this success story on Friday against his parent club.
Mainz also need a few more points. With 31 points, Bo Svensson’s team is currently in ninth place. Theoretically, the 05ers could dream of reaching the European Cup, if that had not been forbidden by the bosses. For the time being, the focus is on keeping the team in the league.
However, Mainz have been very strong at home recently. Nevertheless, the Werkself must be seen as favourites. Bayer 04 is the best team of the second half of the season and is now in third place. Gerardo Seoane’s team has its sights firmly set on qualifying for the top flight. In the current form of the Rhinelanders, we also assume that you will be more successful with a bet on a win for the visitors in the match between Mainz and Leverkusen.
Mainz – Statistics & current form
FSV Mainz are playing a good season. The international places are closer than the relegation zone, but the Rheinhessen are stung children. After only managing to stay in the relegation zone last year with an extreme show of strength, the aim now is to get it under their belt. Sporting director Christian Heidel has not set any new or different goals for the club.
Best defence in the Bundesliga
However, there are some statistics that definitely suggest that the 05ers can at least still attack the Conference League. With 24 goals conceded, Mainz have the best defence in the league. They have not conceded a goal at home in four games. These are numbers that definitely speak for taking a closer look at the odds on sub-par goals in the clash between Mainz and Leverkusen.
Furthermore, Bo Svensson’s team have won all of their last four home games, with none of the opponents being as strong as the Werkself. Away from home, things haven’t gone so well for the Rheinhessen side lately. Last weekend, for example, they could be very satisfied with a 1-1 draw in Freiburg, especially since Alexander Hack’s opening goal was scored under dubious circumstances.
But all in all, the performance was decent and so there is hardly any reason for Bo Svensson to change his starting line-up. All in all, things look very good in terms of personnel. Jeremiah St. Juste is probably the only player who will not be able to play due to injury. In addition, 05 legend Adam Szalai was transferred to FC Basel during the week.
Predicted line-up of Mainz:
Zentner – Hack, Niakhate, Bell – Kohr, Stach, Martin, Widmer – Burkardt, Lee – Onisiwo – Coach: Svensson
Last matches played by Mainz:
1st Bundesliga
02/12 2022 – SC Freiburg 1 – 1 Mainz 05
02/05 2022 – Mainz 05 2 – 0 Hoffenheim
Club friendlies
01/27 2022 – Mainz 05 0 – 1 Eintracht Frankfurt
1st Bundesliga
01/22 2022 – Greuther Fürth 2 – 1 Mainz 05
DFB Cup
01/18 2022 – Vfl Bochum 3 – 1 Mainz 05
Leverkusen – Statistics & current form
Bayer Leverkusen is the team of the moment in the Bundesliga. This is mainly because the attack is extremely young, fresh, fast and capable of scoring goals. Moussa Diaby has scored every time in the last three Bundesliga games. In total, the Werkself scored 16 goals in the last four games. That’s an average of four goals.
Leverkusen goal factory
The many goals then also mean that Bayer 04 have won their last four games and have picked up 13 out of a possible 15 points in their last five games. This makes the Werkself the best team of the second half of the season. Even though the task on Friday will certainly be difficult, there is a lot to be said for predicting an away win with a few goals in the match between Mainz and Leverkusen.
In three of the last four games, there was a handicap victory for Gerardo Seoane’s team. Among others, there was a 5:2 win in Dortmund. Last weekend, VfB Stuttgart were guests at the BayArena. Whenever it was the Swabians’ turn, Bayer scored the goals. Moussa Diaby, Amine Adli, Florian Wirtz and Patrik Schick scored the Leverkusen goals.
Mitchel Bakker will have to serve a yellow ban on Friday. Jonathan Tah should have recovered from his infection and make the team. Pietro Hincapie would then be an option at left-back. Julian Baumgartlinger will continue to be absent due to injury. In addition, Karim Bellarabi will miss several weeks due to a thigh injury.
Predicted Leverkusen line-up:
Hradecky – Hincapie, Tah, Tapsoba, Frimpong – Andrich, Demirbay – Diaby, Wirtz, Adli – Schick – Coach: Seoane
Last matches played by Leverkusen:
1st Bundesliga
02/12 2022 – Bayer Leverkusen 4 – 2 VfB Stuttgart
02/06 2022 – Borussia Dortmund 2 – 5 Bayer Leverkusen
01/22 2022 – Bayer Leverkusen 5 – 1 Augsburg
01/15 2022 – Borussia Mönchengladbach 1 – 2 Bayer Leverkusen
01/08 2022 – Bayer Leverkusen 2 – 2 Union Berlin
Mainz – Leverkusen Direct comparison / H2H balance
2009 there was a duel between Mainz 05 and Leverkusen in the semi-finals of the DFB Cup. All other 31 encounters were played in the Bundesliga. The direct comparison speaks relatively clearly in favour of the Werkself, which is 17:5 ahead after victories. Only five times did the two rivals part with a draw. Most recently, however, the 05ers have always had big problems with Bayer 04.
The Rheinhessen side has been waiting for a win against Leverkusen for eight games now. The Werkself has won seven and drawn one. Gerardo Seoane’s team also won the first leg. They won 1:0 at home in Leverkusen. Florian Wirtz was the scorer of the golden goal at the end of September.
Mainz – Leverkusen Tip
Mainz is very strong at home and has a very stable defence especially at home. For that reason alone, you could think about betting on a home win, but with Bayer Leverkusen, the form-strongest team in the Bundesliga is also coming to the Mewa Arena. Maybe it’s just a phase again, but what the Werkself is showing at the moment is extremely attractive football that is a pleasure to watch.
Mainz have won four home games in a row, Leverkusen have a total of four wins in a row under their belt. Above all, the many goals should have impressed the neutral fan very much. Even after setbacks, Bayer are always getting back into the game at the moment.
Furthermore, we expect a lot of goals, as has always been the case recently when Gerardo Seoane’s team has been on the pitch. Moreover, the 05ers have not won against Bayer for eight games and given the strong condition of the Werkself, this series should last on Friday as well. In any case, we have decided to even play the betting odds on a handicap win (-1.5) for the visitors between Mainz and Leverkusen.
