Bayer Leverkusen collected the next three points on Saturday (September 30, 2023). The victory at 1. FSV Mainz 05 gave the Werkself first place in the Bundesliga table. The hosts acted courageously and were on equal terms for a long time, but were unlucky in the end, also because Leverkusen took advantage of their few chances in the 3-0 (1-0) win in Mainz.
Sepp van den Berg slipped the ball into his own net during a rescue operation (18th minute). After the break, Álex Grimaldo scored with a remarkable free kick (59′). Just a little later, Jonas Hofmann increased the score with a free-standing low shot (65′).
Mainz remains in last place in the table with only one point from six games so far. He couldn’t blame his team too much, said coach Bo Svensson. “If we play this first half ten more times, it will never end 0-1. It’s very bitter that we then score an own goal.”
Bayer set a starting record: Leverkusen have never had 16 points after six matchdays in the club’s history.“Maybe it wasn’t spectacular, but serious and effective today”said Bayer coach Xabi Alonso.
Leverkusen’s Boniface signed off, Mainz with appealing tactics
Mainz did very well from the start against the attacking guests from the Rhine. The defense around Stefan Bell managed perfectly to deny the dangerous Leverkusen attacker Victor Boniface. At the same time, the Rhenish Hessians themselves produced promising attacks. Just one hit wasn’t going to happen. At least not into the opponent’s goal.
Because when Leverkusen played deep into Mainz’s half for the first time, the opening goal came. Palacios fed Frimpong with a perfect through ball. From the right, the Dutchman looked for Boniface, who was ready to shoot, at the second post. Van den Berg tried to clear with a tackle – but sent the ball into his own goal.
Mainz did not allow themselves to be discouraged and continued to play forward. Karim Onisiwo and especially Brajan Gruda played eye-catching, but ultimately unlucky. Bayer goalkeeper Lukáš Hrádecký parried against Gruda (30th) in Mainz’s best chance to score.
Mainz presses after the break
Even after the break, Mainz’s pressure did not let up. Again it was Hrádecký who reacted quickly to Onisiwo’s header after a Fernandes corner (54′). And the guests cheered again as Mainz looked superior but didn’t bring anything noteworthy onto the pitch.
After a foul against Boniface, Grimaldo converted a remarkable free kick with an attempt directly into the left corner. And then Hofmann also added himself to the list of goalscorers when Adli passed across the penalty area from the left of the baseline, Palacios let the ball pass, but Hofmann was all alone on the left and made an unstoppable shot for Robin Zentner in the home team’s goal.
In the final phase, Mainz substitute Anwar El Ghazi narrowly missed with a long-range shot, but the consolation goal on this sixth match day was no longer possible.
Mainz in Gladbach, Leverkusen against Cologne
The Mainz team will be guests in Gladbach on the next matchday (Friday, October 6th, 2023 at 8:30 p.m.). Bayer will face their Rhenish rivals from Cologne two days later (3:30 p.m.).