Bayer Leverkusen set a new German record of 33 games unbeaten with an entertaining Bundesliga victory over Mainz.
Xabi Alonso’s side are now 11 points clear of second-placed Bayern Munich at the top of the table.
Granit Xhaka put Leverkusen in front in the third minute, before Dominik Kohr headed the visitors level.
Robert Andrich sealed the win when his long-range effort was fumbled into his own goal by Mainz keeper Robin Zentner.
Mainz’s hopes of another equaliser took a hit 10 minutes from time as Jessic Ngankam was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Xhaka.
Xhaka’s brilliant left-footed strike was his first goal for Leverkusen and his first in the Bundesliga since 2015.
Second-placed Bayern Munich, who this week confirmed they will part company with boss Thomas Tuchel at the end of the season, play RB Leipzig at Allianz Arena on Saturday.
Line-ups
B Leverkusen
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1Hrádecky
- 6Kossounou
- 4TahBooked at 49mins
- 12Tapsoba
- 30FrimpongBooked at 45minsSubstituted forTellaat 83′minutes
- 8Andrich
- 34Xhaka
- 20Grimaldo
- 7HofmannSubstituted forSchickat 56′minutes
- 10WirtzBooked at 74minsSubstituted forHlozekat 90′minutes
- 21AdliSubstituted forHincapiéat 83′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Stanisic
- 3Hincapié
- 9Iglesias
- 14Schick
- 17Kovár
- 18Mbamba
- 19Tella
- 23Hlozek
- 32Puerta
Mainz
Formation 3-4-3
- 27ZentnerBooked at 54mins
- 31KohrBooked at 52mins
- 3van den Berg
- 19CaciBooked at 66mins
- 30WidmerSubstituted forGuilavoguiat 60′minutes
- 8Barreiro
- 18Amiri
- 2MweneBooked at 85mins
- 43GrudaSubstituted forNgankamat 65′minutesBooked at 80mins
- 9OnisiwoBooked at 42minsSubstituted forKrauÃat 83′minutes
- 7Lee Jae-sung
Substitutes
- 1RieÃ
- 10Richter
- 11Ngankam
- 14KrauÃ
- 23Guilavogui
- 24Papela
- 34Dal
- 39Müller
- Referee:
- Timo Gerach
- Attendance:
- 30,210
Live Text
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Match ends, Bayer 04 Leverkusen 2, 1. FSV Mainz 05 1.
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Second Half ends, Bayer 04 Leverkusen 2, 1. FSV Mainz 05 1.
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Attempt missed. Lee Jae-Sung (1. FSV Mainz 05) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.
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Attempt blocked. Tom Krauà (1. FSV Mainz 05) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Phillipp Mwene.
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Attempt missed. Tom Krauà (1. FSV Mainz 05) left footed shot from the left side of the box is too high. Assisted by Sepp van den Berg with a headed pass following a set piece situation.
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Foul by Patrik Schick (Bayer 04 Leverkusen).
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Leandro Barreiro (1. FSV Mainz 05) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Granit Xhaka (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Nadiem Amiri (1. FSV Mainz 05).
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Nathan Tella (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Nadiem Amiri (1. FSV Mainz 05).
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Substitution, Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Adam Hlozek replaces Florian Wirtz.
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Attempt blocked. Ãlex Grimaldo (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Florian Wirtz.
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Phillipp Mwene (1. FSV Mainz 05) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Edmond Tapsoba (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Phillipp Mwene (1. FSV Mainz 05).
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Foul by Jonathan Tah (Bayer 04 Leverkusen).
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Lee Jae-Sung (1. FSV Mainz 05) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Substitution, 1. FSV Mainz 05. Tom Krauà replaces Karim Onisiwo.
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Substitution, Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Nathan Tella replaces Jeremie Frimpong.
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