Leverkusen vs Mainz Prediction 14 January 2025

🔊 Will the visitors withstand the challenge of another top opponent? The 17th round of the Bundesliga will feature a clash between Bayer and Mainz. The hosts are performing excellently in attack, which should carry over into the upcoming match. However, the "Zero-Fives" are capable of responding with counterattacks. An overall attacking football match is predicted, resulting in another "high-scoring" outcome at the "BayArena."

📊 HEAD-TO-HEAD

The previous encounter was won by the "Aspirins": a 2-1 victory. Notably, in the last 5 head-to-head meetings, the total has exceeded 2.5 goals.

🔴 BAYER

The reigning German champion is in form: 10 consecutive victories across all competitions. After the winter break, Alonso's side managed to defeat Dortmund 3-2. Likely, offensive actions will once again be key. Boniface returns, significantly increasing their potential. Wirtz and company create quite a few chances - with an xG of 1.89 goals. Despite the opponent having one of the best defenses in the tournament, we expect the hosts to dominate. Shortly before the new year, they managed to beat Inter (1-0), Bayern (1-0), and Freiburg (5-1). We understand that an average of 60% possession predicts a large number of opportunities to score. Schick and company can at least match last round's scoring. Moreover, Alonso's charges have scored 2 or more goals against the "Zero-Fives" in five consecutive head-to-head matches.

⚪ MAINZ

Mainz has gained excellent form, positioning themselves near the leaders' group: in 5th place. Aiming for Leverkusen's spot (2nd) will be difficult, but fighting for the top three no longer seems unimaginable. Against top opponents, Mainz performs surprisingly well: victories over Dortmund (3-1), Bayern (2-1), and Eintracht (3-1). After the winter break, they confidently defeated Bochum (2-0). Except for Amiri's suspension, there are no serious personnel issues. It's not a problem for Mainz to fall back to their half, offering counterattacking football. The visitors have scored 7.4 goals more than expected by xG. Transitioning from defense to attack can once again become their main weapon. Burkardt (12 goals) has returned to the lineup. The "Zero-Fives" are certainly capable of responding with several sharp breakthroughs.

⚽️ GOAL PREDICTION

Leverkusen has the second-best result for goals scored in the championship - 2.44 per match. Moreover, matches involving the hosts tend to be quite high-scoring: an average total of 3.88. Mainz has decent defensive capabilities but also shows excellent offense - averaging 1.88 goals per match. In games involving the "Zero-Fives," an average of 3.13 goals are scored. The hosts will pressure the opponent's goal, allowing Alonso's charges to score several times. But Leverkusen's defense doesn't look very strong - conceding 1.44 on average. This gives Mainz hope for counterattacks. Our editorial team sees a logical bet on total over 2.5 goals.

🚩 CORNER PREDICTION

Considering Leverkusen's style of play, it's not surprising that they have the best corner statistic in the Bundesliga - 6.88 per match. A fair number of corners are taken at Mainz's goal: 5.88. The visitors will be forced to spend most of their time near their penalty area, implying a plethora of set-pieces by the "Aspirins." Our editorial team sees the most preferable bet on Bayer's total corners over 5.5.

📝 EDITORIAL PREDICTION

Bayer is of higher class - the team is built for Champions League qualification and a fight for the German championship. Mainz will be in a waiting position, looking for successful counterattacks. Considering the "Aspirins'" style, opportunities for the "Zero-Fives" will certainly arise, but the majority of chances will be for the hosts. Bayer has already managed to defeat Dortmund, and compared to them, Mainz seems like a less challenging opponent. There won't be any underestimation - after all, the hosts are fighting for gold. We believe this clash will end with a score of (3-1). A good option for this match seems to be a bet on Bayer's total over 2 goals.