Bayer Leverkusen have been defeated again in the Bundesliga as they fell to a 1-0 home loss against Mainz 05 on Saturday afternoon.
Mainz got stuck straight in to their hosts and won an early free kick. Nikolce Noveski found space to meet the delivery from Christoph Moritz, but his header went narrowly wide of the opposite post.
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Bayer soon came into the game, however, and went close through Sidney Sam when his left-footed effort following a corner fizzed just over the bar.
Shinji Okazaki then tested Bernd Leno from close range and eight minutes before the break Mainz got the goal that they deserved.
Maxim Choupo-Moting was found by Stefan Bell from very close range and he made no mistake with a back-heeled finish.
Straight after the restart Bayer were nearly level, but Loris Karius made a brilliant save to tip over Son Heung-Min's strike from distance.
Bayer threw everything at the cause, including Stefan Kiessling from the bench, but they were unable to get back into the contest and suffered their fourth Bundesliga defeat in six games.
