Mainz will host Bayer Leverkusen on the final matchday, with the opportunity to secure a spot in European competition. Currently in sixth place with 51 points, Mainz is in contention for a place in the Conference League, while Stuttgart or Arminia Bielefeld have guaranteed Europa League spots through their DFB-Pokal success.
Recently, Mainz ended an eight-match winless streak with a decisive 4-1 victory over Bochum. They remain three points behind Borussia Dortmund in fifth, leaving a slim chance for Europa League qualification, contingent on Dortmund losing to Holstein Kiel and Mainz making up a five-goal deficit in goal difference.
Despite being drawn in their last four home matches, Mainz previously won six of seven matches at Mewa Arena prior to this stretch. However, they will be without centre-backs Dominik Kohr and Moritz Jenz due to injury, and goalkeeper Robin Zentner will also miss the match.
Bayer Leverkusen, the dethroned champions, faced Borussia Dortmund last weekend, leading the match before suffering a 4-2 defeat in what was manager Xabi Alonso's final game at the BayArena. Although the team cannot move up or down from second place in the Bundesliga, Alonso aims to conclude his tenure with a victory.
Leverkusen previously defeated Mainz 1-0 in January, thanks to a free kick from Alejandro Grimaldo. However, the team is currently in poor form, having drawn three of their last five league matches, with last weekend’s defeat marking their only loss.
For this match, Leverkusen will be without defenders Jeanuel Belocian, Mario Hermoso, and Nordi Mukiele, while Martin Terrier remains sidelined due to an Achilles tendon injury sustained earlier in the season.
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