Mainz lost top scorer Jonathan Burkardt to injury inside just three minutes, after which Leverkusen took control of proceedings. Exequiel Palacios came within inches of turning Patrik Schick’s goal-bound touch over the line moments later, but the game struggled for flow as the visitors used regular fouls to interrupt play. Aleix Garcia and Piero Hincapie both had further chances for the dominant Werkself, while Mainz carved out their first opportunity after half an hour through Stefan Bell. The deadlock was finally broken just after the restart when Alejandro Grimaldo fired in a free-kick from 20 yards out. The visitors twice came close to responding but found no way through the champions’ defence. You can read more about the game in our match report HERE.
“We had a few chances and then thankfully got the goal. That was hugely important,” said captain for the night Granit Xhaka. “Obviously we wanted to get a second, but we were very compact and solid in defence.”
Head coach Xabi Alonso commented on the game: “We were absolutely ready for a hard fight against a good opponent. We were patient and played with our heads and fought with real humility until the end. It’s a great win. More of the same!” Looking further ahead through this busy spell, the Spaniard added: “It’s a really intense season, and the second half is usually even harder, especially in Europe. So, we’ve got no time to drop our level but need to keep improving our performances.”
kicker wrote in their summary of the night: “Leverkusen had to come through a few nervy moments in added time but on the whole deserved their win. Mainz gave it a real go after going behind but mostly failed to threaten.” Bild wrote: “Bayer stay on Bayern’s heels. Leverkusen make it six straight Bundesliga wins and 10 in all competitions with a lacklustre 1-0 victory over Mainz.” The Rheinische Post ran with the headline “Grimaldo’s brilliant free-kick earns Bayer victory over Mainz”, while the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger called it a “great goal”.
Match-winner Grimaldo made his 50th Bundesliga appearance for Bayer 04, while Xhaka also reached the same milestone in red and black by leading the Werkself out as captain for the first time. Asked about his debut wearing the armband, the Swiss midfielder said: “It’s always an honour to be captain out there, even though there’s obviously a bit of pressure there.” And there was a century of Bundesliga appearances in Leverkusen colours for Hincapie.
Bayer 04 have won each of their last 10 fixtures in all competitions, which is the club’s second-longest run since earning Bundesliga promotion in 1979. The record stands at 14 straight victories from September to November 2023.
On top of that, Grimaldo scored a direct free-kick for the third time in the Bundesliga, which is the most of any player across Europe’s top five leagues since the start of last season.
In terms of the match stats, the Werkself were on top in all regards across shots (20-7), possession (67 percent), challenges won (61 percent) and pass completion (89 vs. 77 percent).
Leverkusen close out the first week of competitive action of 2025 with another home game in the Bundesliga as Borussia Mönchengladbach come to the BayArena on Saturday (6.30pm CET). That is followed by a UEFA Champions League game away at Atletico Madrid on Tuesday and then a Bundesliga trip to RB Leipzig the following Saturday.
Standing on the pitch where the Werkself players perform - for many Bayer 04 club members, this wish became reality at this year's Members' kickabout. Around 400 active participants of all ages took the opportunity to experience the BayArena from a new and special perspective. And there was also plenty going on in the stands: The event attracted more than 1,000 visitors in total and provided an atmospheric end to the season.
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Following the final match of the 2025/26 season, the prevailing feeling was naturally one of disappointment after missing out on qualification for the Champions League. The Werkself finished the Bundesliga in sixth place, meaning they'll start the 2026/27 campaign in the Europa League. "But to talk negatively about everything now because of that would be wrong," stressed captain Robert Andrich following the final game, knowing that the past year at Bayer 04 was marked, more than almost any other, by the start of a new era and the courage to change – and in particular, the belief in a positive direction. Everyone was aware this process would need time. The first part of the 2025/26 season review.
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