No goal from Boniface - no problem! Leverkusen stomp Mainz to reach the top

Bayer Leverkusen moved to the top of the Bundesliga, at least for a few hours, after a convincing 3-0 victory over struggling Mainz extended Die Werkself’s unbeaten start to the campaign to nine matches (eight wins, one draw). Having failed to register a win in any of their opening five league matches, the hosts knew the magnitude of their task as in-form Leverkusen made the trip to Rhineland-Palatinate. Determined to keep track with perennial title winners Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga, Xabi Alonso’s side started on the front foot, and their early dominance was rewarded with a breakthrough in the 18th minute when Sepp van den Berg inadvertently diverted Jeremie Frimpong’s cross into his own net.

Undeterred by the visitors’ early opener, Mainz gradually grew into the contest as the first half progressed, but Lukas Hradecky stood firm in the Leverkusen goal to thwart Brajan Gruda’s powerful effort. Die Nullfünfer continued to probe for an equaliser before halftime, however, the visitors made it through to the interval with their narrow lead intact.

Bruised but not defeated, the hosts dominated the early stages of the second period, but their profligacy in front of goal was punished on the hour mark, with Alex Grimaldo curling a sublime free-kick into the top corner for his second goal of the season. That goal sparked Leverkusen into life, and Alonso’s men extended their lead just six minutes later through Jonas Hofmann, as the German winger fired a clinical first-time strike into the bottom corner.

With time ticking into the final 15 minutes, Mainz pushed for a late consolation, however, the Leverkusen rearguard held firm for a hard-fought clean sheet as they eased through the closing stages to secure a comfortable three points, moving top of the early-season standings in the process. As for Mainz, they’ll be desperate to bounce back against Borussia Mönchengladbach next weekend after picking up just one point from their opening six league matches

BUNDESLIGA - MATCHDAY 6

Friday

Hoffenheim - Dortmund 1-3 (1-2)

/Kramaric 25 pen - Fullkrug 18, Reus 45+3, Ryerson 90+5/

Saturday

Koln - Stuttgart 0-2 (0-0)

/Undav 68, 88/

Bochum - M'gladbach 1-3 (0-3)

/Losilla 68 - Neuhaus 27, Plea 37, 45+3/

Heidenheim - Union Berlin 1-0 (0-0)

/Beste 59/

Mainz - Leverkusen 0-3 (0-1)

/Van den Berg 18 og, Grimaldo 59, Hoffman 65/

Wolfsburg - Eintr. Frankfurt 2-0 (1-0)

/Wind 31, 85 pen/

19:30: (3.70) RB Leipzig (3.70) Bayern (1.95)

Sunday

16:30: (2.90) Darmstadt (3.45) Werder (2.40)

18:30: (1.75) Freiburg (3.70) Augsburg (5.40)

***odds are subject to change***