Bundesliga
Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen ground out a win over Mainz to extend their unbeaten run to a record 33 competitive matches, whilst consolidating their lead at the top of the Bundesliga.
Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 Mainz
Goals: 1-0 Xhaka 3', 1-1 Kohr 8' (assist: Widmer), 2-1 Andrich 68' (assist: Wirtz)
Sent off: Ngankam 80'
Eight points clear of faltering Bayern Munich ahead of Matchday 23's opening fixture, Leverkusen were ahead after just three minutes at the BayArena. Álex Grimaldo's deflected pass found Granit Xhaka, who whipped a superb long-range finish over the despairing Robin Zentner. That lead last just three minutes, though. Leverkusen loanee Nadiem Amiri's free-kick was helped on by Silvan Widmer, allowing ex-Bayer midfielder Dominik Kohr to send a flying header past Lukas Hradecky for 1-1. Karim Onisiwo tested the Bayer stopper soon after, but Leverkusen asked the majority of the questions as Jonas Hofmann and Xhaka drew saves from Zentner. Jeremie Frimpong was unable to make more of a defensive mix-up involving the Mainz No.1, who atoned with a smart stop at his near post to repel Hofmann.
Relegation-threatened Mainz gave Leverkusen a scare right after the restart as Phillipp Mwene sent a towering header off target. Florian Wirtz returned fire with a deflected shot that whistled wide, but Leverkusen continued to show moments of vulnerability in defence. Edmond Tapsoba played a blind pass across his own area for Jae-sung Lee on one such occasion, the South Korea international sending a rushed attempt off target. Amine Adli glanced a header narrowly wide as the game opened up, before Leverkusen restored their advantage through Robert Andrich's speculative strike that Zentner could only fumble over his line. The goal settled any lingering Bayer nerves as the Bundesliga leaders saw out the remainder with minimum fuss, helped by a straight red card to Mainz substitute Jessic Ngankam for a rash foul on Xhaka. In doing so, they become the first Bundesliga team in history to go 33 consecutive matches without loss.
Match stats
Watch: Xabi Alonso on hard-earned Mainz win
Teams
Leverkusen: Hrádecký (c) - Kossounou, Tah, Tapsoba - Frimpong (Tella 83'), Xhaka, Andrich, Grimaldo - Hofmann (Schick 65'), Wirtz (Hložek 90') - Adli (Hincapie 83')
Unused subs: Kovář, Stanišić, Mbamba, Puerta, Iglesias
Out: Arthur (thigh), Boniface (groin), Palacios (thigh)
Coach: Xabi Alonso
Mainz: Zentner (c) - Kohr, Van den Berg, Caci - Widmer (Guilavogui 60'), Barreiro, Amiri, Mwene - Gruda (Ngankam 65'), Onisiwo (Krauß 83'), Lee
Unused subs: Rieß, Dal, Müller, Richter, Papela
Out: Bell (ill), Burkardt (ill), Fernandes (ankle), Hanche-Olsen (thigh), Leitsch (muscular), Weiper (knee)
Coach: Bo Henriksen
Watch: Granit Xhaka explains celebration