Bayer Leverkusen edged Mainz 4-3 in a dramatic Bundesliga encounter at MEWA ARENA.

The Bundesliga fixture on 10 October 2026 saw Bayer Leverkusen travel to the MEWA ARENA in Mainz for a tightly contested match. Both sides entered the game looking to claim all three points, and the encounter delivered an abundance of goals, bookings and late drama.

How it unfolded

The opening stages were dominated by the visitors. In the 5th minute Robert Andrich opened the scoring for Bayer Leverkusen with a right-footed strike from outside the box that found the high centre of the net. Just four minutes later, Patrik Schick doubled the lead, converting a left-footed shot from the centre of the box after an assist from Aleix García, putting Bayer 04 Leverkusen 2-0 up.

Mainz’s response came after fifteen minutes of pressure. In the 20th minute Phillip Tietz was booked for a bad foul, but the home side continued to push forward. Their first goal arrived in the 33rd minute when Anthony Caci capitalised on a corner, slotting a close-range right-footed shot into the top left corner to make it 2-1. Two minutes later, Sheraldo Becker also received a yellow card for a bad foul.

Caci struck again for Mainz in the 42nd minute, this time with a left-footed finish from the right side of the box, assisted by Nadiem Amiri, to level the scores at 2-2. The momentum shifted briefly in Mainz’s favour before Bayer Leverkusen restored their lead in the 55th minute. Jarell Quansah headed home from the centre of the box, the goal confirmed after a VAR review, to make it 3-2.

The visitors extended their advantage in the 65th minute when Moussa Diaby, assisted by Afonso Moreira, unleashed a left-footed shot from outside the box that curled into the top left corner, pushing the score to 4-2.

Mainz continued to fight back, and Lee Jae-Sung was booked for a bad foul in the 76th minute as the home side sought a comeback. Their perseverance paid off in stoppage time when Benedict Hollerbach scored in the 90'+2' minute, a right-footed strike from the centre of the box that reduced the deficit to 4-3. The final booking of the match came in the 90'+3' minute when Jarell Quansah received a yellow card for a bad foul.

Standout performers

  • Robert Andrich opened the scoring for Bayer Leverkusen with a long-range effort in the 5th minute.
  • Patrik Schick added a second goal for the visitors, finishing from the centre of the box after a pass from Aleix García.
  • Anthony Caci was Mainz’s most prolific attacker, netting twice – once from a corner and later with a finish assisted by Nadiem Amiri.
  • Jarell Quansah contributed a header to put Bayer back in front in the 55th minute.
  • Moussa Diaby capped the away side’s dominance with a striking finish from outside the area, assisted by Afonso Moreira.
  • Benedict Hollerbach earned a late consolation for Mainz with a goal in added time.

Match facts

  • Final score: Mainz 3-4 Bayer Leverkusen
  • Scorers:
    • Bayer Leverkusen – Robert Andrich (5'), Patrik Schick (9'), Jarell Quansah (55'), Moussa Diaby (65')
    • Mainz – Anthony Caci (33'), Anthony Caci (42'), Benedict Hollerbach (90'+2')
  • Bookings:
    • Mainz – Phillip Tietz (20'), Sheraldo Becker (35'), Lee Jae-Sung (76')
    • Bayer Leverkusen – Jarell Quansah (90'+3')
  • Venue: MEWA ARENA, Mainz

What it means

The 4-3 result hands Bayer Leverkusen three points from the Bundesliga clash, while Mainz leave the ground with a narrow defeat despite a late surge. Both clubs take away valuable match experience from the high-scoring encounter.