Comments and predictions for Mainz 05 vs Bayer Leverkusen: The giants are sweating

Latest Mainz 05 vs Bayer Leverkusen squad information

Mainz fear injuries to centre-back duo Dominik Kohr and Moritz Jenz will have a major impact on the weekend's game, while goalkeeper Robin Zentner is also out.

The three-man defence is likely to consist of Danny da Costa, Stefan Bell and Andreas Hanche-Olsen, protecting the goal guarded by Lasse Riess.

In midfield, Kaishu Sano and Nadiem Amiri could continue to pair up, playing behind the attacking trio of Paul Nebel, Jae-sung Lee and Jonathan Burkardt.

For Leverkusen, three defenders Jeanuel Belocian, Mario Hermoso and Nordi Mukiele are all absent due to injury. Edmond Tapsoba, Jonathan Tah and Piero Hincapie are almost certain to start.

Jeremie Frimpong – who is attracting interest from Liverpool – could be making his final appearance for Leverkusen and will be keen to leave a positive mark.

Attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz – also rumoured to be leaving – could start alongside Emiliano Buendia and Patrik Schick, with striker Martin Terrier out with an Achilles injury.

Mainz 05 vs Bayer Leverkusen latest expected lineup

Mainz 05:
Riess; Da Costa, Bell, Hanche-Olsen; Caci, Sano, Amiri, Mwene; Nebel, Lee; Burkardt

Bayer Leverkusen:
Hradecky; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Xhaka, Garcia, Grimaldo; Wirtz, Buendia; Schick

Latest Mainz 05 vs Bayer Leverkusen football review

Mainz 05 secured a convincing 4-1 win over VfL Bochum on 10 May, thanks to a superb second-half performance. They scored three goals, created three big chances and did not allow their opponents any clear-cut chances.

It was Mainz's first win in eight games without a win – a run that included three defeats and four draws, leaving them out of the running for Champions League qualification.

Karnevalsverein are still in with a chance of qualifying for the Europa League, though, as they are just three points behind fifth-placed Borussia Dortmund. They need Dortmund to lose to already-relegated Holstein Kiel and level their goal difference (currently five goals behind).

Coach Bo Henriksen still has reason to worry as his team has failed to keep a clean sheet in the last 10 matches, conceding 15 goals in the last 8 matches.

At home, Mainz were held to draws in all four of their most recent matches, but before that they had won six of their seven at the Mewa Arena – once a solid base.

On the other side, Leverkusen opened the scoring against Dortmund in the 30th minute but were equalized just two minutes later, then lost by 4 goals despite the opponent only creating 1.16 xG - causing coach Xabi Alonso to have to question his defense and goalkeeper.

In fact, Die Schwarzroten have conceded more goals in their last two games (6) than in their previous six (4).

Xabi Alonso has announced he will leave the club in the summer and is certain to end his tenure at Leverkusen with a win – even though the team are already assured of finishing second.

In the first leg of the Bundesliga on January 14, Leverkusen beat Mainz 1-0 thanks to the only goal by Alejandro Grimaldo - the fourth victory in the last 5 confrontations between the two teams.

However, Leverkusen is in unimpressive form, having won only 1 of their last 5 Bundesliga matches (3 draws, 1 loss).

Away from home, they also drew their last two matches, and in their previous four, they won two and lost two.

Latest Mainz 05 vs Bayer Leverkusen score prediction

Based on the above football comments, we and the world's leading football sites have given the results of the match.Mainz 05 vs Bayer Leverkusenas follows:

• Sportsmole:Mainz 05 1-1 Bayer Leverkusen

• WhoScore:Mainz 05 2-2 Bayer Leverkusen
• Our newspaper predicts:Mainz 05 2-2 Bayer Leverkusen

When and where to watch Mainz 05 vs Bayer Leverkusen live?

To watch the Mainz 05 vs Bayer Leverkusen match live in the Bundesliga taking place at 8:30 p.m. on May 17, viewers can watch it onK+ Sport,K+PMor online sports channels. Wish you have fun watching football.