Bayer Leverkusen set a new German record of 33 games without defeat after beating Mainz 2-1 at home on Friday, thanks to a long-range strike from Robert Andrich.
Andrich’s goal was aided by a blunder from Mainz’s Robin Zentner, who failed to hold the ball and let it slip into the net.
Leverkusen were shaky and made several mistakes, but the win puts them 11 points ahead of Bayern Munich in their quest for their first Bundesliga title.
“We have to admit we didn’t play well and were a bit fortunate to win, but we are happy with the three points,” Andrich told DAZN.
Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen, who have won 29 and drawn four of their 33 games this season, broke the record held by Hansi Flick’s Bayern between 2019 and 2020 — a run that included a Champions League triumph.
The week had been filled with talk of Alonso’s future, amid links to Liverpool to replace Jurgen Klopp, along with the upcoming vacancy in Munich.
Alonso had dismissed the rumours, saying any talk of a return to the clubs he played for was “only hypothetical”.
After the match, Andrich told DAZN “we don’t know anything about it, but we don’t let it bother us.”
“It’s like rumours about a player. As long as everything is good in the dressing room, they can say what they want outside of it.”
Granit Xhaka gave the hosts a perfect start, smashing in a dipping rocket from the edge of the box after just three minutes, his first goal in Leverkusen colours.
Leverkusen’s joy was short-lived however, with second-bottom Mainz hitting back just four minutes later.
Nadiem Amiri, who started the season at Leverkusen before moving to Mainz in search of game time, was the creator of the equaliser, floating in a free kick which bounced for Dominik Kohr to head in.
Nerveless during their amazing run this season, the goal took the wind out of Leverkusen’s game, with the side’s normally sharp passes missing the mark.
The pressure showed as Jeremie Frimpong and Alonso both got yellow late in the first half after protesting a decision not to call a foul against the Dutch winger.
Mainz had a great chance to take the lead early in the second half when the usually dependable Edmond Tapsoba passed straight to Lee Jae-sung, but the midfielder fired over with the goal in sight.
With just under 20 minutes left, midfielder Andrich took a hopeful long shot from outside the box.
Zentner, who had superbly kept Leverkusen at bay throughout the match, made a mess of a simple save, allowing the hosts to regain the lead.
Late in the match, Mainz were down to 10 men, Jessic Ngankam shown a straight red for digging his studs into Xhaka’s calf, just 15 minutes after coming on.
The decision killed off Mainz’s hopes of a comeback and ensured Leverkusen took another big step to a first-ever league crown.
