While Bayer Leverkusen don’t have much to play for on the final matchday, there is a lot at stake for FSV Mainz, who are pushing to ensure they feature in one of the European competitions next season.
The home team are sixth in the table with 51 points from 33 outings. They are level on points with seventh-placed RB Leipzig and can’t afford to slip up, or they risk missing out on European football.
They currently occupy the UEFA Conference League spot, but a win here combined with a Borussia Dortmund defeat, who are three points ahead, could see Mainz secure a place in the Europa League.
After a seven-game winless run, they finally picked up a crucial 4-1 victory over VfL Bochum last time out. It was a significant result, and they will be hoping to carry that momentum into their clash with Leverkusen.
The visitors are second on the table with 68 points in their 33 outings. Despite all their efforts they have failed to defend the league title. They are 11 points behind champions Bayen Munich and have an 11-point cushion over third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt. As a result, they have nothing to play for.
Since they are heading into this fixture on the back of a disappointing 4-2 defeat at the hands of Borussia Dortmund, Leverkusen will be eager to return to winning ways against Mainz. But it certainly won’t be that easy as the home team have a lot to play for. The Hard Tackle takes a close look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could deploy.
The home team will be without the services of Dominik Kohr, Moritz Jenz and Robin Zentner. Apart from the trio, Mainz should have everyone fit and available for this fixture.
Mainz will line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, where Lasse Riess will be in goal. Danny da Costa, Stefan Bell and Andreas Hanche-Olsen will be the three central defenders.
Phillipp Mwene and Anthony Caci will feature as the wing-backs, while Kaishu Sano and Nadiem Amiri will feature in a more central role in midfield. They will try to ensure Leverkusen midfielders do not dominate the proceedings.
Paul Nebel and Jae-sung Lee will be the two attacking midfielders behind Jonathan Burkardt, who will be leading the line for them.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Riess; Da Costa, Bell, Hanche-Olsen; Caci, Sano, Amiri, Mwene; Nebel, Lee; Burkardt
Xabi Alonso will be without the services of Martin Terrier, Jeanuel Belocian, Mario Hermoso and Nordi Mukiele in the final fixture of the season. With him set to join Real Madrid, the Spanish manager will be eager to finish on a high.
His team will also line up in a 3-4-2-1, where Lukas Hradecky will be in goal. The back three will be made up of Jonathan Tah, Edmond Tapsoba, and Piero Hincapie.
Alejandro Grimaldo and Jeremie Frimpong will be the wing-backs, while Granit Xhaka and Aleix García will feature in the centre of the park. The duo will look to control the tempo of the game.
Meanwhile, Florian Wirtz and Emiliano Buendia will be the two attacking midfielders for the away team. Patrik Schick will be the one leading the line for them.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Hradecky; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Xhaka, Garcia, Grimaldo; Wirtz, Buendia; Schick
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Wirtz has been instrumental for Bayer Leverkusen throughout the 2024/25 season. The German international has racked up 16 goals and 15 assists in 44 appearances across all competitions, averaging a goal every 206 minutes. His creativity, vision, and ability to deliver in the final third make him the heartbeat of Xabi Alonso’s attack.
While Leverkusen have little at stake heading into the final game of the season, Wirtz will still be eager to make an impact. After a disappointing loss to Borussia Dortmund last time out, he will be motivated to help his side finish the campaign on a high. Mainz will have to keep a close eye on the 21-year-old, who has the quality to turn the game on its head with a single moment of brilliance.
Mainz might have a lot more riding on this fixture, but beating a side of Bayer Leverkusen’s quality is easier said than done, even if the visitors have nothing left to play for. While the home team will come out all guns blazing in front of their home fans, the quality and depth of Xabi Alonso’s side could prove too much over the course of 90 minutes.
With players like Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, and Patrik Schick capable of producing moments of magic, Leverkusen have enough firepower to hurt Mainz on the break. The visitors will push hard to take control early on and dictate the tempo of the game. They do have enough quality in their ranks to get the desired result. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-0 win for the away team.
