Despite 16 attempts on goal and utter domination of Saturday afternoon's Bundesliga clash, Bayer Leverkusen failed to make it count and drew 0-0 against a stubborn Mainz outfit. Mainz goalkeeper Loris Karius deservedly picked up the man of the match award, keeping die Werkself's offensive forces at bay throughout the 90 minutes.
The game started brightly, with long range attempts from mid-week hero Heung-Min Son and winger Karim Bellarabi failing to test Karius. Despite this, Leverkusen had a stranglehold on the game, controlling both possession and territory throughout, but in the 20th minute, a rare foray forward from the visitors resulted in a golden chance for Yunus Malli, who couldn't convert from a prime position in the penalty area.
Although the signs looked promising after that chance for Mainz, the lions' share of the game was still in Leverkusen's favour, and after 18 year old wonderkid Julian Brandt had brilliantly made his way down the wing and presented the chance to poacher Stefan Kiessling, it took a fine double save from Karius to preserve the stalemate. Another Kiessling header, this time cleared off the line, was the final piece of action before the interval.
Three Hakan Calhanoglu efforts, each creeping just wide of Karius' post, were the cue for an action packed second period. Mainz were left defending for their lives, without offering any kind of attacking penetration, as Leverkusen looked for an opening, slowly but surely coming closer and closer.
With ten minutes to go, Karius made his best stop of the match, expertly clawing away Calhanoglu's goal-bound effort. Such maturity is rarely seen in 21 year old goalkeepers, but he was excellent today. Substitute Robbie Kruse's effort was also blocked, and by that stage the game was up. Mainz, without a win since matchday 8, will be the happier side, as Leverkusen drop to 5th place in the table. Inefficiency in front of goal ultimately cost the hosts, who can at least take some positives from the game, such as their ability to create chances.
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