Mainz vs Bayer Leverkusen predictions: Goals to flow in Alonso farewell
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- Mainz kick off the final round of fixtures in sixth place, on course for Conference League qualification
- Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso takes charge of his final match before his expected move to Real Madrid
- Recommended bet: Over 3.5 goals
Bayer Leverkusen finish their Bundesliga campaign with a trip to Mainz on Saturday and it is the end of an era for last season's champions.
Manager Xabi Alonso has confirmed that he is leaving, reportedly to succeed Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid, while stars such as Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong could also depart this summer.
Hosts Mainz will be focusing on their own job as they bid to secure a place in Europe next season but they have won only one of their last eight league matches.
Team news
Mainz are missing the injured Dominik Kohr and Moritz Jenz while defender Danny da Costa and goalkeeper Robin Zentner will be assessed. Lasse Riess could continue in goal if Zentner is not passed fit.
Bayer Leverkusen defender Mario Hermoso has joined Martin Terrier, Jeanuel Belocian and Alejo Sarco on the sidelines. Nordi Mukiele (calf) is a doubt.
The stats
Mainz have drawn their last four Bundesliga home games and both teams have scored in eight of their last 10 league matches.
Mainz have conceded at least one first-half goal in six of their last seven games .
Bayer Leverkusen have won only one of their last five Bundesliga matches, but are unbeaten in their last 33 away league fixtures.
Leverkusen forward Patrik Schick has scored nine away goals in 766 minutes this season.
Prediction
Mainz start the final round of Bundesliga fixtures in sixth place – the Conference League qualification spot – but they are level on points with RB Leipzig in seventh.
Bo Henriksen's men were dreaming of Champions League qualification a few weeks ago before a seven-game winless streak scuppered their chances.
They only snapped that run last week in a 4-1 win at bottom club Bochum and they look short enough to beat Bayer Leverkusen, who will want to give Alonso a decent send-off.
Leverkusen have been guaranteed to finish as runners-up to Bayern Munich for a while so it is no surprise that their high standards have slipped recently.
They lost 4-2 to rampant Borussia Dortmund in Alonso's final home fixture last weekend and backing over 3.5 goals looks a solid bet when they travel to Mainz.
The hosts may need a victory to make sure of their top-six finish given that Leipzig have a winnable home fixture against mid-table Stuttgart.
If they push on then Leverkusen can hit them on the break and the visitors' Czech striker Patrik Schick has scored nine goals in only nine starts and five substitute appearances away from home this season.
Mainz have drawn their last four home matches including 2-2s against Freiburg and Wolfsburg.
They also conceded three goals in recent away defeats at Dortmund and champions Bayern and are without a clean sheet in their last 10 games.
Leverkusen drew 0-0 and 1-1 with Bayern this season but 17 of their other 31 league games produced over 3.5 goals and the Alonso era could end with yet another high-scoring contest.
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