31.
21:03
After a good half hour, Mainz had produced as many shots on goal as Leverkusen. Bayer still has problems finding solutions against Mainz’s defensive blocks.
28.
20:59
After an Amiri corner from the right at the five-pointer, Kohr gets a header, but doesn’t place it well enough. Hrádecký quickly initiates the counterattack, with Frimpong passing from the right flank to Hofmann, whose low attempt from the edge of the penalty area can be blocked by Barreiro.
27.
20:57
Wirtz gives it flat from the right side to the five-pointer, where Adli wants to do magic, but misses the ball with his heel. The attacker was offside anyway.
25.
20:56
The 05ers can easily defend both a Hofmann free kick from the right half of the field and a Grimaldo corner from the right.
22.
20:54
Mainz again: Amiri tries from 20 meters on the left, but the ex-Leverkusen player’s shot goes well over Hrádecký’s box.
21.
20:53
The home team is increasingly taking control of the game and has a lot of possession in this phase. Frimpong is slightly offside when Andrich crosses him.
18.
20:51
The 05ers have so far implemented what Henriksen demanded of his team and are making life difficult for Bayer in the early stages.
16.
20:50
After a nice pass from Frimpong on the right to Hofmann, he tries it from a tight angle. Zentner is attentive this time and parries for the corner, which is not dangerous.
13.
20:49
Defensively, the 05ers have been doing well so far and are barely letting the Werkself get into the penalty area.
10.
20:48
The guests are by no means hiding here at the beginning. Onisiwo produces the next shot, but the attempt from distance is no problem for Hrádecký.
7.
20:44
Tooor for 1. FSV Mainz 05, 1:1 by Dominik Kohr
The FSV’s quick response! Amiri hits a free kick from half field behind the chain. Widmer heads the ball right at the far post just before the goal line back to Kohr, who finishes with a powerful flying header from a seven-meter central position.
3.
20:43
Great for Bayer Leverkusen, 1-0 by Granit Xhaka
Leverkusen leads early! Grimaldo’s cross near the left corner flag is deflected by Widmer so that it lands at Xhaka in the backcourt. Zentner awaits a cross from the left corner of the penalty area, Xhaka puts the ball centrally into the net over the keeper with outstanding shooting technique. But the Mainz goalkeeper doesn’t look good there.
1.
20:41
Here we go, Gerach has released the game. In the first half, Leverkusen played classically in black and red towards their corner.
1.
20:41
Game start
20:28
The referee of the floodlight game is Timo Gerach, who is assisted by Florian Heft and Robert Wessel. It’s about to start in the sold-out BayArena, the players have already stepped onto the pitch. Have fun!
20:20
Henriksen was quite confident in the face of the big challenge: “We will not only have highly motivated players, but also a good plan. We will not show any fear, even if we know how good Bayer Leverkusen is.” However, the 05ers have been suffering for a long time Injury list, which also includes the illness-related absences of Ajorque, Burkardt and da Costa. So the young talents Dal and Müller are in the FSV squad for the first time. There is only one change in the starting eleven: for Hanche-Olsen, who is against Augsburg suffered a torn muscle fiber, Widmer begins. Amiri meets his former club today.
20:10
Xabi Alonso still remembers last season’s defeat, wants to “prevent it from happening again” and expects “an intense game”. He makes three changes to the starting eleven. Compared to the 2-1 win in Heidenheim, Kossounou and Tapsoba start in the back three alongside Tah instead of Hincapié and Stanišić (both bench). Hofmann also replaces Schick on the offensive, so Adli should probably start in the attacking position. Midfield engine Palacios has not yet made it back into the squad.
20:01
Mainz are deep in the relegation battle, but come to Leverkusen with the tailwind of the coaching change and the successful debut of the new head coach Bo Henriksen. After eleven games without a threesome, the hard-fought 1-0 home win against Augsburg had a cathartic effect. Nevertheless, the 05ers are still in direct relegation position 17. It is one point to reach the relegation place, but it is seven points to the first non-relegation place. In addition, the 05ers are not exactly known as an away power: FSV has not yet been able to win away from home this season, but they still managed to get six points from eleven away games (six draws, five defeats). Mainz also won their last away game in Leverkusen 3-2 a year ago.
19:49
Can Mainz stop league leaders Leverkusen on their way to the championship title? It hardly seems within the realm of possibility and that’s largely due to Bayer’s overwhelming dominance this season. The Werkself are still unbeaten, have won nine of eleven games at home (two draws) and were also able to rest during the week, as Xabi Alonso’s team qualified directly for the Europa League round of 16 as group winners and did not had to take the detour via the playoffs. As of this afternoon it is clear: Leverkusen will face Qarabag Agdam from Azerbaijan, as they did in the group phase.
19:36
Welcome to the Friday evening game of the 23rd matchday of the Bundesliga between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FSV Mainz 05! Kick-off for the floodlit game in the BayArena is at 8:30 p.m.