Bundesliga on Saturday
Bayer wins goal festival – VfB worsens Wolfsburg crisis
Updated 10/18/2025 – 5:45 p.mReading time: 4 minutes
With hair-raising ball losses, Mainz helped their opponents take a clear half-time lead. Then things got exciting again. Meanwhile, VfB climbed.
Runner-up Bayer Leverkusen clinched their next victory. The team led by captain and national player Robert Andrich narrowly defeated 1. FSV Mainz 05 4:3 (3:1) on Saturday afternoon – also thanks to the help of the hosts. While the zero fives are still in the bottom of the table, the Werkself are in fifth place in the Bundesliga.
In the parallel games, VfB Stuttgart won confidently against VfL Wolfsburg 3-0 (1-0). The “Wolves” have only managed one win this season. It was different for 1. FC Heidenheim, who at least got one point: In the duel with Werder Bremen, Frank Schmidt’s team managed a 2-2 (0-0) draw. 1. FC Köln and FC Augsburg also drew 1:1 (0:0).
1. FSV Mainz 05 – Bayer Leverkusen
Kasper Hjulmand remains undefeated as Leverkusen coach. In the league it was the fourth win in the fifth game under the new coach. Against Mainz, who were too error-prone, double goalscorer Álexander Grimaldo (11th minute, penalty kick, 45th + 3), Christian Kofane (24th) and Martin Terrier (87th) helped their team to really get going in the season.
The follow-up goals from Jae-sung Lee (34th), Nadiem Amiri (71st, penalty kick) and Armindo Sieb (90th) were not enough for Mainz to get at least one point against the 2024 German champions. Bo Henriksen’s team is still struggling and is in the middle of a relegation battle.
The first chance belonged to Jonas Hofmann, after the shot from the returning player from the starting line-up, Lasse Rieß prevented the deficit with a nice flying effort (8th). Following the following corner, Nikolas Veratschnig hit Hofmann somewhat unluckily, and Grimaldo converted the penalty well placed. Mainz continued to play as courageously as possible, but invited the guests behind. A passing error in the build-up by central defender Dominik Kohr gave Leverkusen possession of the ball in a good position, and a few clever passes later Kofane easily increased the score. But the hosts didn’t let that get them down either. Lee shortened the score before the break after Mainz’s long run, but his goal was more of a coincidence.