German Bundesliga
2026-02-28 - Bayer Leverkusen vs Mainz
A Sports Betting Pick by Niko
Football; Germany: Bundesliga
Bay Arena – Leverkusen
Saturday, 28th February 2026 - kickoff 15:30 CET
Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen return to the BayArena looking to respond after a 1-0 defeat away to Union Berlin ended their month-long unbeaten run in the Bundesliga.
They remain sixth in the Bundesliga, four points off the top four with a game in hand, but 2026 has been inconsistent – three wins, three defeats, and a draw in the Bundesliga since the turn of the year.
That said, midweek brought a boost as Bayer Leverkusen held Olympiacos to a goalless draw at home to seal a 2-0 aggregate victory and book their place in the Champions League last 16, thanks to Patrik Schick’s first-leg double.
Bayer Leverkusen’s coach Kasper Hjulmand now faces his former club Mainz, and his record in Leverkusen colours has been strong domestically, with 12 wins from 21 Bundesliga matches – three times as many as he managed during his stint with Mainz.
Mainz
Mainz arrive just two points above the bottom three after a 1-1 draw with Hamburger SV, but there are clear signs of improvement under Urs Fischer.
Across the 10 Bundesliga matches Fischer has overseen, Mainz have taken 16 points – the seventh-best return in the division over that period and level with Bayer Leverkusen’s tally in the same timeframe.
Much of Mainz’s threat comes from Nadiem Amiri, who is enjoying a career-best campaign. The former Bayer Leverkusen midfielder has scored 10 Bundesliga goals, seven of them in 2026, and he has netted five of Mainz’s last six Bundesliga goals. With 38 per cent of his side’s total league goals this season, he is very much the focal point of their attacking play.
The Betting Verdict
Bayer Leverkusen have had the better of this fixture recently, winning four of the last six Bundesliga meetings and claiming a 3-4 victory in the reverse game earlier this season.
At home, Bayer Leverkusen have also won four of the last six against Mainz, including the last two.
Mainz are competitive under Fischer and carry real danger through Amiri, but with European momentum behind them and a strong head-to-head record, Bayer Leverkusen look the more likely winners, though both teams scoring wouldn’t surprise.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 Mainz
BEST BETTING TIP :
Take Bayer Leverkusen to win at odds of 1.70 with SportBet.One
