Bayer Leverkusen take on the visitors Mainz in the round 17 match of German Bundesliga. The match will be played on Tuesday, January 14th at BayArena (Leverkusen).
Bayer reached the pinnacle of their history in the 2023/2024 season. They went undefeated in domestic competitions, which deservedly secured their first-ever Bundesliga title. Additionally, Bayer went on to claim the DFB-Pokal, completing a historic double. They narrowly missed out on a treble, falling to Atalanta in the Europa League. After the summer break, the team added the German Super Cup to their trophy cabinet but began experiencing setbacks, including an August loss to RB Leipzig. Since then, they’ve suffered just one defeat, against Liverpool in the Champions League. Bayer also eliminated Bayern Munich from the DFB-Pokal in Munich and remain close contenders in the Bundesliga title race. Following the break, Xabi Alonso’s side secured an impressive win over Borussia Dortmund in Dortmund, showcasing their resilience. As they host Mainz, Bayer will look to maintain their momentum, especially with their home form being a key factor in their title aspirations.
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Mainz makes a strong comeback at the end of 2024. The "Carnival Club" showed promise under Svensson but endured a collapse last season. After a managerial carousel, they narrowly escaped relegation, finishing with 35 points—just two more than Bochum, who ended up in the relegation playoff. Under new Danish coach Henriksen, results were initially unimpressive, with only three wins by late autumn and a 0-4 drubbing by Bayern in the DFB-Pokal. However, Mainz surged in November, winning five of their last six matches in 2024. This remarkable run lifted them to fifth place before the winter break, just two points behind third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt. Yet, the table remains tight, with the same margin separating them from 10th-placed Stuttgart. Their 2-0 victory over Bochum before the break was crucial for maintaining momentum. To pull off an upset against Bayer, Mainz will need to replicate their high-pressing game and capitalize on any defensive lapses from the hosts.
Bayer has won three of the last four meetings, suffering only one defeat. This includes two victories during their championship-winning campaign last season. The reigning champions are in exceptional form and are expected to dominate at home. A comfortable victory seems likely.
Prediction for the match: Bayer Lverkusen to win with a -1.5 goal handicap.
