Bayer Leverkusen defeated Mainz 05 2-1 on Friday to go 11 points clear at the top of the league and set a new record for a Bundesliga club to go unbeaten in 33 straight games across all competitions.
The Bundesliga leaders, weren’t clinical up front while also allowing the visitors enough space to go forward, made full use of a mistake by Mainz keeper Robin Zentner to bag the win.
Xabi Alonso's team, who defeated Bayern Munich's previous unbeaten run of 32 matches, sit at 61 points, with second-placed Bayern, on 50, in action against RB Leipzig on Saturday.
They took the lead with Granit Xhaka's stunning effort from 20 metres in the third minute but it didn’t last long with Dominik Kohr's diving header just five minutes later levelling things for Mainz.
Leverkusen had majority of the ball but Mainz keeper Robin Zentner made a string of fine first half saves to keep the visitors in the game before allowing a weak Robert Andrich shot in the 68th go through his hands for the hosts to take the lead once again.
Mainz were down to 10 men when Jessic Ngankam was sent off for a foul on Xhaka.
"We have to be honest to ourselves and say that we did not play a good game," said scorer Andrich. "We were a bit lucky to win it. But we won't be complaining about the three points.
"We were too impatient and not precise enough. We did not find the solutions needed. We made far too many mistakes."
