Mainz vs. Bayer Leverkusen: probable line-ups, match stats and LIVE blog!

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Burkardt was being talked up as a future Germany international after scoring seven times between Matchdays 4 and 14. He's since gone eight matches without a goal, though - his longest barren run of the season. Mainz have blown hot and cold in that time, but are unbeaten in three of their last four league matches. Wins over Bochum and Hoffenheim sandwiched a disappointing loss to bottom side Greuther Fürth, before last weekend's 1-1 draw in Freiburg. Bo Svensson's side head into Matchday 23 in ninth, albeit only three points adrift of the top four. With the exception of defender Jerry St. Juste, the Mainz boss has a full complement of players to choose from, and could recall Leandro Barreiro - a second-half substitute a week ago - in midfield.

Leverkusen begin the weekend in third, only four points behind second-placed Borussia Dortmund. Die Werkself are the division's best team so far in 2022, with 13 points from a possible 15. They're also the only outfit to have won their last four in a row - a hot steak comprising some 17 goals. Moussa Diaby's accounted for five of them, while Schick made it 11 goals in his last nine games and 19 for the season with Bayer's fourth in the 4-2 win over VfB Stuttgart. Mitchel Bakker serves a mandatory one-match ban after collecting his fifth yellow card of the campaign in that game. Piero Hincapie will likely move to left-back as a result, with the fit-again Jonathan Tah slotting in alongside Edmond Tapsoba at centre-half. January signing Sardar Azmoun remains a major doubt, while Karim Bellarabi is definitely out.

Match stats

Four of Burkardt's seven Bundesliga goals in 2021/22 have fallen on Mainz soil.

The 05ers have only lost three of 24 Bundesliga games with former Leverkusen midfielder Dominik Kohr in the starting line-up.

However, Mainz are winless in eight against Leverkusen (D1, L7).

Schick has 19 goals in as many Bundesliga games this term, scored at a rate of one every 80 minutes.

Diaby has scored in three straight Bundesliga matches for the first time in his career. With five goals during that spell, he's doubled his tally for campaign.

Leverkusen boast the second best away record in the Bundesliga this season (21 points), after leaders Bayern Munich (25 points).

Probable line-ups

Mainz: Zentner - Bell, Hack, Niakhate (c) - Widmer, Barreiro, Kohr, Martin - Lee - Onisiwo, Burkardt

Out: St. Juste (shoulder)

Doubtful: -

Coach: Bo Svensson

Leverkusen: Hradecky (c) - Frimpong, Tah, Tapsoba, Hincapie - Andrich, Demirbay - Adli, Wirtz, Diaby - Schick

Out: Bakker (suspended), Baumgartlinger (knee), Bellarabi (thigh)

Doubtful: Azmoun (knee), Kossounou (thigh)

Coach: Gerardo Seoane