Jan Novak
Dailysports's expert
Bayer Leverkusen
Mainz 05
Bonus up to $130/€100
In the 17th round of the German Bundesliga, Bayer Leverkusen will face Mainz in an exciting clash. The match is scheduled for Tuesday, January 14, with kick-off at 20:30 Central European Time. Here’s a detailed preview of the game, along with a betting recommendation focusing on the match's total goals.
Match Preview
Bayer Leverkusen is defending their title as Bundesliga champions this season, but it won't be an easy task. The team is trailing Bayern Munich by four points and sits comfortably in second place.
In their most recent match, Xabi Alonso’s side secured an away win against Borussia Dortmund. Notably, Patrick Schick has found his former form and is once again consistently scoring, making him the team’s top scorer in the Bundesliga.
Mainz has been one of the standout teams of the season and is even competing for a place in the Champions League. While it’s clear that a Champions League spot is out of reach, they still have a solid chance of qualifying for European competitions.
Currently sitting in fifth place, Mainz has been in excellent form. After the break, they managed to beat modest Bochum at home and have been impressive defensively, conceding just 20 goals so far this season.
Key Match Facts
- Bayer Leverkusen has won their last ten matches.
- Mainz has a similar run, winning their last three games.
- Bayer averages 3 goals per game at home, while Mainz scores an average of 2.2 goals per game on the road.
Probable Lineups
- Bayer Leverkusen: Hradecky, Tapsoba, Tah, Incapie, Mukiele, Xhaka, Grimaldo, Frimpong, Andrich, Wirtz, Schick.
- Mainz 05: Zentner, Enz, Bell, Da Costa, Mwene, Kohr, Sano, Casi, Lee, Nebel, Burkardt.
Head-to-Head Record
The two teams have not drawn against each other in the past four years.
Prediction
No matter how well Mainz is performing, Bayer Leverkusen looks too strong for them. I expect the hosts to secure a victory, and I’m betting on a total of over 2.5 goals in the game.
Bonus up to $130/€100
