Leverkusen claims seven-goal thriller at Mainz
Bayer Leverkusen's Alejandro Grimaldo scored twice in the first half to guide it to a 4-3 victory in a thrilling clash at Mainz, stretching the 2022-2023 champion's record unbeaten run on the road in the Bundesliga.
Leverkusen moved up to 14 points into fifth place with a third straight league win while also extending its unbeaten league record to 37 consecutive away matches.
Spain international Grimaldo opened Leverkusen's account with an 11th-minute penalty before teenager Christian Kofane doubled the lead 13 minutes later, capping off a dominant opening spell.
Mainz briefly cut the deficit through Lee Jane-sung in the 34th but Grimaldo punished the hosts for two consecutive defensive errors in first-half stoppage-time to slot in and restore the two-goal cushion.
In a topsy-turvy second half the hosts hit the post and earned a 71st minute penalty, with Nadiem Amiri putting them back in the game from the spot, but the visitors struck again with Martin Terrier slotting in from seven metres in the 87th.
Mainz still had time to score another goal in the 90th minute through Armindo Sieb, but could not find the equaliser in 10 minutes of stoppage-time.
Despite scoring its first goals in a home game this season, Mainz, stuck in 16th place, has now failed to win at home for a ninth straight league game, equalling the club's record for the longest stretch without a victory at home.
