Match Day 4
Bayer Leverkusen vs Mainz 05
Sunday, September 23rd, 2018
22:30pm (GMT+8 Timing)
Stadium: BayArena
Bayer Leverkusen:
Last five matches form: D W L L L
Average goals per match: 0.67
Average goals against per match: 2.67
Top Scorer: Wendell & Leon Bailey (1)
Mainz 05:
Last five matches form: W L W D W
Average goals per match: 1.33
Average goals against per match: 0.67
Top Scorer: Anthony Ujah (2)
Bayer Leverkusen will be pretty strong favourites to win this one in most people's eyes. It's pretty tough to see why on this seasons form so far though. Leverkusen sit rock bottom of the Bundesliga after three games having lost to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Wolfsburg and Bayern Munich. That's admittedly a tough opening, but they face an unbeaten side in Mainz 05 here.
It was honours even between the sides last season, Leverkusen winning this game 3-1 but Mainz picking up a 2-0 win on home soil.
Plenty of absentees for both sides here. Leverkusen will be missing the injured Joel Pohjanpalo, Julian Baumgartlinger, Panagiotis Retsos and Charls Aránguiz, in addition to the suspended Karim Belarabi. Mainz must do without Emil Berggreen, Danny Latza, René Adler and Alexander Hack.
Leverkusen did pick up a decent win at Ludogorets in the Europa League in midweek which may have helped restore a bit of confidence. The other side of the coin though is that Mainz may just be the fresher side here having had a free week in which to prepare.
Bayer Leverkusen have won just three of their past eight at home in the Bundesliga.
Mainz overall record away from home is dire though; winning just two of their past eighteen.
A match which could go either way, but overall that poor away record for Mainz just sways us towards the home side.
Prediction: Bayer Leverkusen 2 - 1 Mainz 05