Bayer Leverkusen vs. Mainz preview: In-form Werkself aim to keep pressure on Bayern

Bayer Leverkusen will look to extend their winning run and keep the pressure on Bayern Munich at the top of the table when they face the only team to have beaten the Bavarians in the league this season, Mainz.

Bayer Leverkusen

After a shaky start to the season, the German champions have steadied their ship with nine wins in a row across all competitions.

Xabi Alonso’s men began 2025 in the manner they had hoped, as Die Werkself handed Borussia Dortmund their first home league defeat of the season with a 3-2 win at Signal Iduna Park.

Patrik Schick netted a brace in the opening 19 minutes to make it 11 goals in his last six Bundesliga appearances.

However, with Florian Wirtz and Exequiel Palacios benched after missing Die Werkself’s final preparations due to being stuck in a traffic jam, their build-up to the game was far from ideal.

But that’s all behind them now, as Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso has announced that Wirtz will start against Mainz.

With second-placed Leverkusen four points behind Bayern, the 21-year-old could prove crucial as so often before, as Xabi Alonso’s men look to keep the pressure on the Bavarians.

Team News

Leverkusen remain without Amine Adli (broken leg), Jeanuel Belocian (cruciate ligament) and Victor Boniface (thigh).

Nordi Mukiele or Nathan Tella are likely to make way for Wirtz, while Exequiel Palacios could come in at the expense of Robert Andrich.

Mainz

Mainz picked up where they left off last year, beating VfL Bochum 2-0 in their first game of 2025.

Injury returnee Jonathan Burkardt scored both goals in the win, which means Mainz have now won six of their last seven Bundesliga games, including eye-catching victories over Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich and Eintracht Frankfurt.

The impressive run of results has seen Bo Henriksen’s side move up to fifth in the table and they will be eager to cause another upset when they visit the champions on Tuesday.

“Of course, we know that Leverkusen are a very good team,” said Mainz coach Bo Henriksen at his pre-match press conference. 

“They finally won the title last season. We’re a good side too though, and we’ve worked out a plan. We want to play with courage and dynamism, and we’ll also need to defend really well. If we do that, we’ll have a good chance tomorrow.”

Team News

Mainz will once again have to manage without their midfield talisman Nadiem Amiri, who remains suspended. Gabriel Vidovic is sidelined due to an ankle injury.

In addition, Die Nullfünfer are sweating over the fitness of Paul Nebel, who picked up a knock against Bochum. If he misses out, Hyunseok Hong is expected to take his place in the attacking midfield.