Leverkusen beat Mainz to extend league lead and set unbeaten record
Bayer Leverkusen claimed a hard fought 2-1 victory over 10-man Mainz on Friday to go 11 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga and reach a German record 33 matches without defeat.
Robert Andrich scored the winner in the 68th minute with a lot of help from Mainz goalkeeper Robin Zentner, who failed to hold on to the shot from a distance after earlier making several big saves.
Leverkusen had led from Granit Xhaka's third minute stunner into the far top corner, his first goal since a summer move from Arsenal.
Dominik Kohr levelled five minutes later as second last Mainz made life difficult for Leverkusen. But Andrich restored the lead and Mainz player Jessic Ngankam was sent off with 10 minutes left.
Leverkusen moved 11 points clear of title holders Bayern Munich, who on Saturday host RB Leipzig in the wake of three straight defeats in the Bundesliga and Champions League, and following a mid-week announcement that they will part ways with coach Thomas Tuchel after the season.
Leverkusen are the first Bundesliga team to go 33 games without defeat, breaking a tie with Bayern who had not lost in 32 games between December 2020 and September 2021.
They last lost 3-0 in Bochum in the past season's Bundesliga finale on May 27. Since then, they have won 29 of their 33 matches in the Bundesliga, German Cup and Europa League, the only dropped points coming in four Bundesliga draws.
