Bayer Leverkusen can move 11 points clear of Bayern Munich on Friday night in the Bundesliga when they host Mainz. Kick-off at the BayArena is 20:30 local time.
Xabi Alonso could make one defensive change coming into this game with Odilon Kossounou replacing Josip Stanišić on the right side of a back three. Another option for the Spaniard would be to play Edmond Tapsoba, who will receive a one game suspension upon collecting his next domestic yellow card.
After a thigh injury, Exequiel Palacios is expected to make Bayer’s squad, but is unlikely to start which means Robert Andrich will again play alongside Granit Xhaka in the double pivot, with Jeremie Frimpong and Alex Grimaldo providing the width. The two wing-backs are in excellent form this season with 32 goal contributions between the pair (15 goals and 18 assists).
Amine Adli, who has two goals in his last three league games, is expected to again start alongside Patrik Schick, but another option would be Borja Iglesias.
As we enter the latter stages of the season, Alonso is blessed with an almost full strength squad. The only player of note not a part of the squad is Victor Boniface, who is sidelined with an adductor injury.
Predicted Bayer Leverkusen XI vs Mainz
Lukas Hradecky – Odilon Kossounou, Jonathan Tah, Piero Hincapié – Jeremie Frimpong, Robert Andrich, Granit Xhaka, Alex Grimaldo – Amine Adli, Florian Wirtz – Patrik Schick.
