Martinez keen to improve Leverkusen’s away record

Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.

Carles Martinez is eyeing a first Bundesliga away win of the season for Bayer Leverkusen when they travel to Mainz on Saturday.

Leverkusen lost their league opener 3-2 away to newly promoted Elversberg but have gone unbeaten since then, with two wins and a draw.

That stalemate also came on the road against Augsburg, with both of their wins – and clean sheets – coming at the BayArena.

And despite sitting fifth in the early standings, Martinez knows it is important to get their first road win on the board sooner rather than later.

“Mainz are a good team; we’re a good team,” Martinez said.

“We’re determined to improve our away record and come away with three points.

“[Saturday’s] match is an important one. I want to see my team put in the same performance they did against RB Leipzig [a 2-0 home win].”

Martinez has a few injury worries to contend with after the extended international break, with Ibrahim Maza, Kennet Eichhorn and Guela Doue all set to miss the Mainz game.

“He’s [Maza] better. We have to check in training and then decide whether he’s ready,” Martinez said about Maza before addressing the other injury concerns.

“Guela is working on his comeback; it’s still taking some time. However, the process is going well, as planned.

“We’re in touch with Kennet; we speak regularly, including about football in general. Despite his absence, he wants to feel part of the team, and that’s what we’re aiming for as well.”

Mainz are level on points with Leverkusen, only sitting behind their opponents on goal difference.

Unlike Martinez’s side, Mainz have had a lot of joy on the road in 2026-27, but they are yet to win at home, after a draw with Paderborn and a 3-1 loss to Eintracht Frankfurt.

More of the same, please! #M05B04 https://t.co/WkqNKUK8RI

— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) October 9, 2026

Tietz has scored in three consecutive Bundesliga matches, a feat he previously only achieved for Augsburg in October and November 2023.

He is the first Mainz player to score four goals in the first four Bundesliga matchdays since Shinji Okazaki in 2014-15 (also four).

Schick has scored in each of the first four matchdays of a Bundesliga season for the first time (four goals).

He could now become the third player to do so in the first five matchdays for Leverkusen, following Stefan Kiessling in 2009-10 and Dimitar Berbatov in 2005-06 (five goals each).

Scoring in five consecutive Bundesliga matches would also be a first for the Czechia international.

MATCH PREDICTION: BAYER LEVERKUSEN WIN

Mainz have won only two of their last 17 Bundesliga matches against Leverkusen (D3 L12) and are winless against them in the top flight since a 3-2 away victory in February 2023.

Indeed, Mainz have picked up fewer points against Leverkusen (two) than against any other current Bundesliga side across their last six league meetings.

They are enjoying their best Bundesliga start in seven years, though, having collected seven points from four matches – they have matched their haul from 2022-23.

Leverkusen have won their last two matches in all competitions and could now secure three consecutive victories for the first time since January and February (four). They have also scored at least twice in all six matches under Martinez in all competitions.

And Mainz have failed to win any of their last five Bundesliga home games, losing four (D1); among current top-flight sides, only Eintracht (six) are currently on a longer winless run at home.

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