Bundesliga: Bayer Leverkusen Edges Mainz 4-3 in Seven-Goal Thriller
Bayer Leverkusen wins third straight Bundesliga game with a 4-3 victory over Mainz. Grimaldo scores twice, and Terrier adds insurance goal.
Mainz broke their home goal drought in unexpected fashion, capitalizing on Bayer Leverkusen's defensive lapse...
Bayer Leverkusen edged Mainz 4-3 in a thrilling Bundesliga encounter at the Mewa Arena. The win propelled Leverkusen into the top four, extending their league-record unbeaten away run to 37 matches.
Mainz's struggles continued, with the hosts conceding six goals in each of their previous two league defeats. The trend seemed set to continue in the first half, but Mainz showed remarkable resilience to narrow the deficit and push for an unlikely comeback.
Alejandro Grimaldo gave Bayer Leverkusen the perfect start, calmly converting a penalty kick after Jonas Hofmann was fouled by Nikolas Veratschnig. The left-back's cool finish from 12 yards gave Leverkusen a deserved lead.
Just over 20 minutes into the game, Leverkusen doubled their advantage. A dazzling display of one-touch football on the edge of the Mainz box culminated in Christian Kofane's clinical finish, as he lashed the ball into the bottom corner. This marked his third successive game with a goal, further showcasing his impressive form under Kasper Hjulmand.
Mainz broke their home goal drought in unexpected fashion, capitalizing on Bayer Leverkusen's defensive lapse. A long throw into the box caused chaos, and Loic Bade's clearance error allowed Lee Jae-sung to pounce and score, giving Mainz a surprise lead.
Mainz's momentum was short-lived, as Leverkusen swiftly regained their two-goal lead. A turnover high up the pitch led to Alejandro Grimaldo doubling his tally, slotting home at the near post after a precise pass from Jonas Hofmann.
The hosts threatened to mount a comeback, with Paul Nebel's cross hitting the bar before halftime. However, Grimaldo's low drive in the second half came agonizingly close to completing a hat-trick, whistling just wide of the post.
Mainz's fortunes changed when Arnaud Nordin's long-range strike hit the woodwork, and Phillipp Mwene was fouled by Arthur as he tried to control the rebound. Nadiem Amiri, a former Leverkusen midfielder, stepped up and slotted home the penalty, scoring his second goal in as many matches and giving Mainz new hope.
YES! Now I need a very long lie down 😅
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) October 18, 2025
90+10' | 3-4 | #M05B04 pic.twitter.com/Esc3uz7ZXX
Martin Terrier, who made his first Leverkusen appearance since January as a substitute, sealed the win for Bayer Leverkusen with a clinical finish from inside the six-yard box.
The game seemed all but over, but Mainz refused to give up. In the 90th minute, Armindo Sieb picked out the far corner with a stunning shot, remarkably reducing the deficit to 4-3.
Despite a spirited fight, Mainz's miraculous comeback efforts ultimately fell short. This defeat extended their winless home streak in the Bundesliga to nine matches, dating back to February, and leaves them struggling in the bottom three.
The win marked Leverkusen's third consecutive Bundesliga victory, with five wins in seven matches. This impressive form sets them up perfectly for their upcoming UEFA Champions League showdown against Paris Saint-Germain.
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