FSV Mainz 05 vs Bayer Leverkusen 3-4

Bayer Leverkusen won 4-3 at the MEWA Arena after leading 4-2 late on and then surviving a stoppage-time push from FSV Mainz 05. Mainz twice came from behind in the first half, but Leverkusen’s third and fourth goals gave them enough to take the points.

Leverkusen were ahead in the 5th minute when Robert Andrich scored, and Patrik Schick made it 2-0 on 9 minutes from Aleix García’s assist. Anthony Caci pulled one back in the 33rd minute, then levelled for Mainz in the 42nd with Nadiem Amiri supplying the pass. It was 2-2 at half-time.

Jarell Quansah restored Leverkusen’s lead on 55 minutes, before Moussa Diaby made it 4-2 in the 65th minute from Afonso Moreira’s assist. Mainz made three changes on 70 minutes and kept going, while Leverkusen made two changes on 75 minutes, but the home side only got back within one when Benedict Hollerbach, who came on in the 77th minute, scored in the second minute of stoppage time. Leverkusen then saw out the rest after that late scare.

Mainz had more shots, 23 to 16, and more expected goals, 2.36 to 1.58, but Leverkusen had more possession at 53% to 47% and more passes, 508 to 442. Leverkusen also had more shots on target, 7 to 5, while Mainz won 4 corners to 3 and both sides were level on offsides from a single Leverkusen flag.

Mainz were booked three times, with Phillip Tietz on 20 minutes, Sheraldo Becker on 35 minutes and Lee Jae-Sung on 76 minutes. Leverkusen had one yellow card, for Jarell Quansah in the third minute of stoppage time.