Leverkusen beat Mainz 2-1 for 11 points lead at the top

Angel Todorov

Sports Editor

Last Updated: Feb 23 | 5:26 PM

4 min read

Leverkusen beat Mainz 2-1 for 11 points lead at the top

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Bayer defeated Mainz 05 and is very close to winning the title in the Bundesliga.

Bayer Leverkusen won against Mainz 05 – 2-1 at BayArena as Xabi Alonso’s side is 11 points ahead of Bayern Munich as the club also beat Bayern’s unbeaten streak record with today’s victory.

The home side needed only 3 minutes to score the 1^st goal in the match. Granit Xhaka received the ball on the edge of the box and fired with his 1^st touch as the ball went straight under the crossbar. That was the Swiss midfielder’s 1^st goal in a competitive match since 2015.

▪️ Bayer Leverkusen go 11 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga

▪️ Xabi Alonso's side become the first German team ever to go 33 matches unbeaten in all competitions pic.twitter.com/djI3YZPPx3

— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) February 23, 2024

However, only 5 minutes later, the visiting side shocked the fans at BayArena as Dominik Kohr headed the ball into the net after Silvan Widmer’s assist.

Until the end of the 1^st half, The Company’s Eleven had 2 great chances to score, but they missed them both. Mainz 05 midfielder Dominik Kohr also wasted a great opportunity after a corner to score.

At the beginning of the 2^nd half, the visiting team wasted another great chance to score again as Phillipp Mwene missed.

Granit Xhaka has scored a Bundesliga goal for the first time since September 2015; it's his first for Bayer Leverkusen.

And he trolled the entire stadium with the celebration. 😂 pic.twitter.com/JJehzQs5ef

More on this topic:
Leverkusen finish Bundesliga unbeaten all campaign

— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) February 23, 2024

The Black and Reds finally took the lead in the 68^th minute. Robert Andrich made a not-so-great shot, but Robin Zentner made a shocking mistake, and the ball went into his net, and Leverkusen took the lead 2-1.

Jessica Ngankam left Mainz 05 with 10-man on the pitch after receiving a red card for a shocking tackle against Granit Xhaka.

🚨🥵 BAYER LEVERKUSEN GO 33 GAMES UNBEATEN IN ALL-COMPS! ✨

It's now a German record. Big credit to Xabi Alonso and his team. 🔝 pic.twitter.com/W378Jsjdqv

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) February 23, 2024

Leverkusen are 1^st in Bundesliga with 61 points after 23 matches – 11 more than 2^nd placed Bayern Munich, but the FCB have a game in hand.

Mainz 05 are in the relegation zone in the 17^th place with 15 points after 23 games.