Leverkusen go fifth after Brandt inspires victory over Mainz

Posted Saturday, February 09, 2019 by PA

Bayer Leverkusen climbed to fifth in the Bundesliga after Julian Brandt inspired a thumping 5-1 win at mid-table Mainz.

Germany winger Brandt scored a brace and claimed two assists at Opel Arena to lead Leverkusen to a third consecutive league victory.

Brazilian defender Wendell slotted in Karim Bellarabi’s pass to give Peter Bosz’s visitors a fifth-minute lead, but the advantage was cancelled out just four minutes later when Sweden forward Robin Quaison fired home inside the right post.

The away side dominated the rest of the opening period though and, after setting up Kai Havertz’s 20th-minute goal, Brandt calmly made it 3-1 10 minutes later.

Mainz almost pulled one back in the 42nd minute when Aaron Carico crashed a shot against the crossbar.

The hosts were immediately punished as Bellarabi, who had struck the woodwork at 2-1, added a fourth a minute later by collecting a pass from Brandt to find the bottom left corner.

And star man Brandt had the final say with 26 minutes remaining, dancing through the Mainz defence and coolly slotting into the bottom right corner past goalkeeper Florian Muller following a neat one-two with Kevin Volland.