Bundesliga preview: FSV Mainz 05 vs Bayer Leverkusen

Bundesliga

FSV Mainz 05

W23 Aug · Krieschow 0-9 FSV Mainz 05D29 Aug · FSV Mainz 05 0-0 SC Paderborn 07W6 Sep · Hamburger SV 0-5 FSV Mainz 05L12 Sep · FSV Mainz 05 1-3 Eintracht FrankfurtW19 Sep · Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-4 FSV Mainz 05

VS

Bayer Leverkusen

L29 Aug · SV Elversberg 3-2 Bayer LeverkusenW5 Sep · Bayer Leverkusen 4-0 Union BerlinD12 Sep · FC Augsburg 2-2 Bayer LeverkusenW16 Sep · Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 CeljeW20 Sep · Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 RB Leipzig

Saturday 10 October 2026 · 15:30

Read our prediction →Read the post-match analysisTrack Record

Introduction

The Bundesliga brings one of the division’s more intriguing fixtures as FSV Mainz 05 host Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday 10 October 2026, kick-off at 15:30. Mainz will be looking to make their home advantage count against a Leverkusen side operating across multiple competitions this season. Here is everything you need to know ahead of the match.

Form Guide

FSV Mainz 05 arrive at this fixture having won three of their last five matches across all competitions, although their record reveals a clear split between home and away performances. Their most eye-catching result came on the road at Hamburger SV, where they ran out 5-0 winners in the Bundesliga, and their latest result was a dramatic 4-3 away victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach in September. However, their home form tells a different story: a goalless draw against SC Paderborn 07 and a 1-3 home defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt suggest Mainz have found it harder to impose themselves in front of their own supporters. A 9-0 DFB Pokal away win over Krieschow also sits in the recent record, though the level of that opposition tempers how much weight can be placed on it. Overall, Mainz look a side more dangerous on the road than at home so far this campaign.

Bayer Leverkusen have been in solid form heading into this trip, with three wins and a draw from their last four matches since a defeat away at SV Elversberg. That defeat, a 3-2 reversal, is the one blemish, but Leverkusen have responded emphatically. They brushed aside Union Berlin 4-0 at home in the Bundesliga, drew 2-2 away at FC Augsburg, then recorded back-to-back 2-0 wins — first against Celje in the UEFA Europa League and then against RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga. The Europa League involvement confirms Leverkusen are active on a second front this season, meaning fixture congestion could become a factor as the autumn progresses. On current evidence, they travel to Mainz with confidence and momentum.

Head to Head

The recent head-to-head record firmly favours the visitors. In the last five competitive meetings between these sides, Bayer Leverkusen have won three times and drawn twice, with Mainz yet to record a victory. The most recent encounter, played at Leverkusen in February 2026, ended 1-1. Before that, Leverkusen won 4-3 at Mainz in October 2025, a result that saw plenty of goals despite Mainz leading at various points. A 2-2 draw at Mainz in May 2025 and a 1-0 Leverkusen home win in January 2025 also feature in the recent run, while a 2-1 Leverkusen victory in February 2024 rounds out the five meetings. The pattern is clear: Leverkusen have the upper hand in this fixture, and Mainz have not beaten them in any of their last five attempts.

Team News

FSV Mainz 05 are dealing with a number of absentees. Kohr is ruled out with a foot injury, Silas misses the match with a broken shinbone, and Zentner is sidelined due to a hand injury. Nebel, Ruoppi and Widmer are all listed as doubtful — Nebel with a muscle injury, Ruoppi and Widmer both due to knee problems. The number of players either missing or uncertain makes for a difficult selection situation ahead of a testing fixture.

Bayer Leverkusen also have injury concerns to manage. Culbreath is ruled out with a foot injury, Doue is sidelined with a calf injury, and Kofane misses out due to a muscle injury. Eichhorn is listed as doubtful through illness. Leverkusen will be hoping that those fitness issues do not deepen before Saturday’s kick-off.

What to Watch

With Mainz carrying injury doubts across several positions, their ability to deal with Leverkusen’s attacking quality will be a key theme. Leverkusen’s recent Bundesliga displays have been efficient rather than extravagant — their wins have been clean and controlled — while Mainz’s away results suggest they can score freely but have struggled at home to put teams away. The goals-heavy nature of recent meetings between these sides, including a 4-3 and a 2-2 draw in recent history, raises the prospect of an open contest. Leverkusen’s involvement in the Europa League adds a layer of squad management consideration, though three wins and a draw in their last four across competitions suggest they are coping well with the schedule. Mainz will need their injury doubts to come through unscathed and will be seeking their first competitive win over Leverkusen in recent memory.