Granit Xhaka scored his first goal for Bayer Leverkusen as the Bundesliga leaders beat Mainz 2-1 and set a German record of 33 defeats in all competitions.
Leverkusen, which has lost a game since last season, extended its lead to 11 points before 11-time defending champion Bayern Munich hosts Leipzig on Saturday. There are 11 laps left after this weekend.
Preparations for Friday’s match have been based on assumptions about the long career of Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso and his former clubs, Bayern Munich and Liverpool, in search of new managers for next season.
Alonso has no shortage of suitors after knocking Leverkusen out of the relegation zone when he replaced real name contenders in October 2022.
Fans celebrated the German soccer league’s midweek resolution to abandon plans to bring in an outside investor for a percentage of the media rights proceeds by waving a banner that read “Football belongs to the fans. “
They didn’t have to wait long to celebrate when Xhaka gave Leverkusen the lead in the 3rd minute. The Swiss midfielder scored his first goal from outside the box in his 31st appearance for the club.
But Dominik Kohr responded four minutes later with a header from the other end of the pitch.
Leverkusen’s frustration increased when Jeremie Frimpong was booked for complaining after being brought down by Mainz defender Phillipp Mwene while scoring on goal.
The television reruns showed that there had been contact. Alonso also reserved himself for his complaints.
Frustration persisted after the break when Leverkusen failed to break through.
Then, otherwise, the perfect Zentner could not stop Robert Andrich’s innocent shot and in the 68th minute the ball went over his head.
That proved to be enough for the win, as Mainz’s hopes were dashed in the 80th minute when Jessic Ngankam was sent off after a VAR review for a damaging tackle on Xhaka.