Mainz 05 vs. Bayer Leverkusen preview: Can Leverkusen clinch their first points of the season?
Bayer Leverkusen will look to collect their first points of the season when they face a Mainz side who are yet to lose this term.
Mainz 05
Mainz have started the 2022-23 campaign in fine form, winning three of their four competitive matches.
They began the campaign with a 3-0 win over Erzgebirge Aue in the DFB-Pokal, before beating Bochum 2-1 on the opening weekend of the Bundesliga season, while they had to settle for a goalless draw in their first home game.
Mainz extended their unbeaten start to four games with a dramatic 2-1 win over Augsburg last weekend. The contest looked set to finish all square after Augsburg's Ermedin Demirović cancelled out Karim Onisiwo's opener, however, Lee Jae-Sung struck in the third minute of stoppage time to help Mainz begin the season with consecutive away victories.
After three Bundesliga games, Saturday's hosts sit in fourth position, and they are one of six teams who are yet to lose in the league this season.
As well as looking to claim their first home win of the season, Mainz will attempt to extend their unbeaten home run in the Bundesliga to six games.
Team News
The hosts are expected to be without the services of Danny da Costa and Marcus Ingvartsen.
Bayer Leverkusen
While their hosts are unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen have experienced a disastrous start to the season after losing all four of their competitive matches.
After losing 4-3 to Elversberg in the DFB-Pokal, Leverkusen began their Bundesliga campaign with a narrow 1-0 defeat away to Borussia Dortmund.
Leverkusen were on course to claim their first point of the season, with their first home encounter against Augsburg level at one goal apiece ahead of the closing stages. However, a 82nd effort from Andre Hahn condemned Leverkusen to another defeat.
A fourth consecutive loss followed last weekend as Gerardo Seoane's side were thrashed 3-0 by Hoffenheim, leaving Leverkusen in the relegation zone ahead of Saturday's contest.
Leverkusen are one of two teams - Bochum being the other - who are yet to pick up a point this season.
After conceding six goals and scoring only once in their opening three league games, Leverkusen will be looking for an improvement at both ends of the pitch on Saturday.
Team News
Karim Bellarabi, Andrey Lunev, Amine Adli, Florian Wirtz are all sidelined for Saturday's contest, while Charles Aranguiz is also a doubt.