Thus, there is little to suggest that league runners-up Bayern Munich, who have played one game less than Leverkusen, can afford to waste more points in particular if the club is to win its twelfth straight league title.
Xabi Alonso’s side have yet to lose a league game this season. The result after 23 games is 19 wins and four draws.
Before three minutes had passed, Granit Xhaka loaded the cannon and hammered in 1-0 to the hosts. The 31-year-old has been a key piece for the league leaders this season, but the veteran had to wait until the match against Mainz before the season’s first goal came.
However, the lead did not last long. A practiced dead ball variation from the visitors culminated in scoring after a great header from Dominik Kohr, who thus ensured balance in the accounts. Halfway through the second half Leverkusen’s Robert Andrich unleashed a shot from distance, and in the Mainz goal Robin Zentner managed to root the ball into the net.
The visitors’ Jessic Ngankam was given his marching orders with ten minutes remaining, and Leverkusen was finally able to control the 2-1 victory.
Bayern host fifth in the table RB Leipzig on Saturday.
(©NTB)