Bayer Leverkusen will take on Mainz in the Bundesliga at the BayArena on Friday. The hosts are league leaders, with an eight-point advantage over second-placed Bayern Munich. Mainz are at the other end of the table, with 15 points in total and only three above Darmstadt who are at the bottom of the standings.
Bayer are enjoying an unbeaten season in the Bundesliga and will be the strong favourites to secure three points for the fifth game in a row. Their last defeat was back in May 2023 last season and it will be a massive challenge for Mainz to get anything out of this contest. They managed a win in their last outing, after a disastrous run of 11 games without success.
Here GOAL brings you everything you need to know about how to watch, including TV channel, streaming details and more.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Mainz 05 kick-off time
| Date: | February 23, 2024 |
| Kick-off time: | 2.30 pm ET |
| Venue: | BayArena |
The match will be played at the BayArena, with kick-off at 2.30 pm ET on Friday for fans in the US.
How to watch Bayer Leverkusen vs Mainz 05 online - TV channels & live streams
The match will be shown live on ESPN+ in the US. Match highlights will be available after the game on the platform and YouTube. Live updates can be found here on GOAL.
How to watch anywhere with VPN
If you are abroad, you may need to use a virtual private network (VPN) in order to watch games using your usual streaming service. A VPN, such as NordVPN, allows you to establish a secure connection online when streaming. If you are not sure which VPN to use, check out GOAL's guide to the best VPNs for streaming sport.
Team news & squads
Bayer Leverkusen team news
Bayer Leverkusen continue to face challenges due to the absence of their leading scorer Victor Boniface (groin injury) along with Exequiel Palacios and Arthur (thigh injuries), who are still on the path to recovery.
Odilon Kossounou, fresh from clinching the Africa Cup of Nations title with Ivory Coast, returned to the squad last weekend. Edmond Tapsoba, who also recently completed his AFCON commitments, is in line for a potential return.
Bayer Leverkusen predicted XI: Hradecky; Stanisic, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Xhaka, Andrich, Grimaldo; Adli, Wirtz; Schick.
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers: | Kovar, Hradecky, Lomb |
| Defenders: | Hincapie, Tah, Stanisic, Monamay, Grimaldo, Frimpong, Fosu-Mensah |
| Midfielders: | Xhaka, Mbamba, Andrich, Puerta, Wirtz, Hofmann, Aourir, Tella |
| Forwards: | Schick, Hlozek, Iglesias, Adli |
Mainz 05 team news
In the Mainz camp, injuries persist with Andreas Hanche-Olsen (thigh), Nelson Weiper (knee), and Stefan Bell (illness) still sidelined. Doubts linger over the fitness of Edmilson Fernandes (ankle), Maxim Leitsch (muscle injury), and Jonathan Burkardt (illness), all of whom are under evaluation and their participation will be confirmed closer to the game time.
Mainz predicted XI: Zentner; Kohr, Van den Berg, Guilavogui; Mwene, Barreiro, Amiri, Caci; Gruda, Onisiwo, Lee.
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers: | Riess, Zentner, Batz |
| Defenders: | Mwene, van den Berg, Caci, da Costa, Widmer |
| Midfielders: | Lee, Barreiro, Krauß, Amiri, Guilavogui, Papela, Kohr, Shabani |
| Forwards: | Onisiwo, Richter, Ngankam, Ajorque, Gruda |
Head-to-Head Record
| Date | Competition | Match |
|---|---|---|
| 30/09/23 | Bundesliga | Mainz 0 - 3 Bayer Leverkusen |
| 20/02/23 | Bundesliga | Bayer Leverkusen 2 - 3 Mainz |
| 27/08/22 | Bundesliga | Mainz 0 - 3 Bayer Leverkusen |
| 19/02/22 | Bundesliga | Mainz 3 - 2 Bayer Leverkusen |
| 25/09/21 | Bundesliga | Bayer Leverkusen 1 - 0 Mainz |