Leverkusen 2 – 1 Mainz

Granit Xhaka scored his first objective for Bayer Leverkusen because the Bundesliga leaders defeated Mainz 2-1 and set a German document of 33 video games unbeaten throughout all competitions.

Leverkusen, who haven’t misplaced a match since final season, stretched their result in 11 factors, earlier than 11-time defending champion Bayern Munich host Leipzig on Saturday. Eleven rounds stay after this weekend.

The build-up to Friday’s match was dominated by hypothesis over the way forward for Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso, together with his former golf equipment Bayern Munich and Liverpool on the lookout for new coaches for subsequent season.

Alonso has no lack of suitors after taking Leverkusen from the relegation zone when he took over in October 2022 to real title candidates.

Supporters celebrated the German soccer league’s midweek resolution to scrap its plan to herald an outdoor investor for a share of media rights earnings by displaying a banner saying “Soccer belongs to the followers.”

They didn’t have to attend lengthy to have fun once more when Xhaka fired Leverkusen right into a third-minute lead. The Switzerland midfielder let fly from outdoors the penalty space for his first objective on his thirty first look for the membership.

However Dominik Kohr replied for the guests with a header on the different finish 4 minutes later.

Leverkusen’s frustrations grew when Jeremie Frimpong was booked for complaining after he had been tripped by Mainz defender Phillipp Mwene when he would have been by means of on objective.

TV replays confirmed there was contact. Alonso was additionally booked for his complaints.

The frustration remained after the break as Leverkusen didn’t discover a approach by means of.

Then the in any other case glorious Zentner failed to carry Robert Andrich’s harmless-looking shot and the ball looped in over his head within the 68th minute.

It proved sufficient for the win as Mainz’s hopes had been hit within the eightieth minute when Jessic Ngankam was despatched off after a VAR verify for a harmful deal with on Xhaka.