FSV Mainz – Bayer Leverkusen
The 6th matchday of the Bundesliga is coming up next weekend. On Saturday, five exciting games will take place in the popular conference. At 3:30 pm, a duel of opposites is then expected at the MEWA Arena in Mainz. Whether the Werkself will continue their winning streak in this clash in Rhineland-Palatinate, you can find out in our Mainz – Leverkusen tip.
For the hosts, the duel with Bayer 04 should be a turning point in the season. Mainz have only picked up one point in the league so far in their home game against Frankfurt and are thus in last place in the table after five games. The previous week, coach Bo Svensson’s team even lost 2-1 at direct rivals Augsburg.
The Werkself, on the other hand, is currently in excellent shape. Compared to last year, Leverkusen currently have ten points more on their account. The Rhinelanders have already collected 13 points from the first five games, which is a club record. Last week, Bayer 04 also won convincingly with 4:1 against Heidenheim.
Mainz – Leverkusen info:
- Date & Time: 30.09.2023, 15:30 Uhr
- Game venue: MEWA Arena, Mainz
- Competition: Bundesliga, Matchday 6
- TV coverage: Sky
Mainz Form & Balance Check
Mainz 05 experienced a flight of fancy in the past second half of the season. After finishing the first half of the season in twelfth place, FSV developed almost unstoppably and even headed towards Europe. In the end, the performance slackened somewhat and Mainz finished the season in ninth place.
However, coach Bo Svensson’s team has so far failed to build on the successes of the last second half of the season. After five matchdays, FSV is in last place in the table with one point. The last time Mainz had such a bad start to the season was in the horror first half of 2020. At that time, the zero-fives had only seven points after the first 17 games. In keeping with their current poor form, FSV also lost 2-1 against Augsburg in the basement duel during the form week.
Ajorque is back
Last winter, FSV Mainz pulled off a transfer coup with the signing of Ludovic Ajorque, a powerful striker of an imposing 1.97 metres tall who has already scored six goals in the second half of the season. His ability to receive accurate crosses proved particularly valuable. It is therefore hardly surprising that Mainz won the second most header duels in the league last season.
However, the tall Frenchman was absent for the start of the season due to injury. Against Augsburg, the 29-year-old was back in the starting eleven for the first time since Matchday 1 and promptly scored his first goal of the season. In the coming games, Mainz will now hope for a greater impact from Ajorque again.
Mainz facts & analysis
- Last season in 9th place in the Bundesliga table.
- Lost 1:2 against Augsburg in the previous week
- Only one point from first five games
Leverkusen form & balance check
After coach Xabi Alonso took charge of the Werkself during the course of last season, Bayer 04 experienced a steady upward trend. This positive progression eventually led to a sixth place finish at the end of the season and secured qualification for the Europa League once again. This season, however, Leverkusen has shown even better performances so far.
The Werkself made an outstanding start to the new season and won the first three Bundesliga matches without any major difficulties. Bayer 04 also performed extremely well in the top match in Munich, earning a deserved 2:2 equaliser in injury time. With the 4:1 win against Heidenheim last week, Leverkusen are currently in second place in the league.
With possession to success
With 17 goals from the first five games of the season, the Werkself is, together with VfB Stuttgart, the second best offensive team in the Bundesliga and is only one goal behind FC Bayern. Unlike last year, however, Bayer coach Xabi Alonso is not only relying on a vertical game and quick switching.
Instead, the Werkself impresses with long phases of possession and a precise passing game. It is therefore no coincidence that Leverkusen currently have the third most possession in the league and are even the most accurate in the league with a passing rate of 89.5%.
Leverkusen facts & analysis
- Bundesliga second in the table
- Won 4:1 against Heidenheim in the previous week
- Already more goals than after twelve games in pre-season
Predicted line-up – last update on 29 September 2023
At Mainz, we don’t expect a change of system despite the recent failures. Coach Bo Svensson will therefore send his team into the game in 3-4-2-1 again. Newcomers Josuha Guilavogui and Anwar El Ghazi will probably be on the bench for the time being.
Leverkusen’s team is already extremely well-rehearsed at this early stage of the season. Therefore, we expect coach Xabi Alonso not to make any changes to his starting eleven and to send exactly the same eleven players onto the field that defeated Heidenheim 4:1 last time out.
Mainz – Leverkusen direct comparison & statistics
The record between the two teams is clearly in favour of the Werkself. Bayer 04 have won 18 of the 35 direct encounters so far, while Mainz have only left the field as winners against Leverkusen twelve times. In the pre-season, however, both teams won one match each.
- Mainz have won only two of their last eleven games against Leverkusen.
- Leverkusen are still unbeaten, while Mainz are still without a win.
- The average goals scored when Mainz and Leverkusen meet is 3.6
