Moussa Diaby on target as Leverkusen edge seven-goal thriller in Mainz
Bayer Leverkusen edged a seven-goal thriller after winning 4-3 on the road against Mainz. Anthony Caci grabbed a brace for the hosts, but it was not enough to prevent a dramatic defeat against Leverkusen, who have now recorded back-to-back wins.
Mainz 3-4 Leverkusen
Goals: 0-1 Andrich 5’, 0-2 Schick 9’ (assist: García), 1-2 Caci 33’, 2-2 Caci 42’ (assist: Amiri), 2-3 Quansah 55’, 2-4 Diaby 65’ (assist: Moreira), 3-4 Hollerbach 90’+2
Mainz head coach Urs Fischer made one change to his starting line-up after the 4-3 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach, bringing in Eric Martel for Jaesung Lee. Bayer Leverkusen's Carles Martínez also made a single change, with Robert Andrich coming in for Ezequiel Fernández to make his 200th Bundesliga appearance.
Mainz went into the match on seven points from four games, among the division's better starts, while Leverkusen arrived off the back of a 2-0 win over RB Leipzig.
Flying start for the visitors
Leverkusen struck twice inside the opening ten minutes. In the 5th minute, a Phillipp Mwene headed clearance fell straight to Andrich, who volleyed home from 18 metres to make it 0-1. Four minutes later, Ibrahim Maza's dummy let the ball run to Patrik Schick, who slotted in from 10 yards to make it 0-2.
Mainz gradually grew into the game, and after half an hour Martel's header was blocked by Andrich before Anthony Caci pounced from close range to pull one back in the 33rd minute. Caci struck again just before the break, finishing from 15 metres with his left foot after a through ball from Nadiem Amiri, levelling the score at 2-2 by half-time.
Leverkusen regain control
The visitors moved back in front in the 55th minute when Jarell Quansah headed home at the second attempt after Schwolow had initially saved his effort, with the goal standing after a VAR review for a possible handball by Schick.
Ten minutes later Moussa Diaby curled a stunning effort from 18 metres into the top corner to restore the two-goal cushion at 2-4. Mainz continued to push, and deep into stoppage time, Benedict Hollerbach, having come on for Sheraldo Becker , converted from close range after a deflected shot from Lennard Maloney to make it 3-4, but there was no time left for a leveller.
Man of the Match: Anthony Caci
Anthony Caci scored both of Mainz's first-half goals, pulling his side level from 0-2 down with a close-range finish in the 33rd minute before adding a composed left-footed effort just before half-time. His double was decisive in keeping Mainz in the contest, and he was voted Man of the Match with 43 per cent of the votes.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Mainz 2.80 - Leverkusen 2.31
Fastest player: Sheraldo Becker (Mainz), 34.02 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 2-4 by Moussa Diaby (Leverkusen), 8 per cent
Pass efficiency: Nadiem Amiri (Mainz), +4.36
Fantasy Heroes: Anthony Caci (Mainz 05, 412 Points), Robert Andrich (Leverkusen, 286 Points), Nadiem Amiri (Mainz, 175 Points)
