Caci Double Cancels Leverkusen's Fast Start as Mainz Reach Half-Time Level at 2-2

Mainz 05 and Bayer Leverkusen go into the break at 2-2 at the MEWA ARENA, a scoreline that flatters the visitors and rewards the home side's set-piece work. Leverkusen scored twice inside nine minutes. Mainz scored twice inside nine minutes of their own. The half ended with the teams level and the underlying numbers pointing one way.

Robert Andrich opened the scoring in the 5th minute, finishing right-footed from open play on an effort worth 0.07 xG. Four minutes later Patrik Schick doubled the lead, converting left-footed from an Aleix García assist on a chance valued at 0.08 xG. Two shots, two goals, 0.15 xG combined. Leverkusen had 54 percent of the ball across the half and 100 passes in Mainz's half to the hosts' 70, but the early lead came from efficiency rather than sustained pressure.

Anthony Caci pulled one back in the 33rd minute, right-footed from a corner, on a chance worth 0.73 xG — the single highest-quality opportunity of the half. Nine minutes later he struck again, left-footed from open play, assisted by Nadiem Amiri, on an effort valued at just 0.02 xG. Caci's two goals came from a combined 0.75 xG, and he ends the half as the match's leading individual contributor with 0.90 xG across his involvement.

Mainz outshot Leverkusen 14-4 across the first half and put four on target to Leverkusen's three. The hosts generated 1.84 xG to Leverkusen's 0.46, with 0.92 of that coming from set plays against Leverkusen's 0.09. Mainz took all four corners of the half and made 17 touches in the box to Leverkusen's nine. They won 25 duels to Leverkusen's 19 and picked up two yellow cards to Leverkusen's none.

Leverkusen's shape — a 4-2-3-1 — struggled to find space against Mainz's 3-5-2, which packed three centre-backs and five across midfield. Six Leverkusen players were squeezed: Mark Flekken completed just 46.2 percent of his passes across 16 touches for a 5.33 rating; Patrik Schick, despite his goal, managed 57.1 percent passing on 11 touches; Miguel Gutiérrez (96.3 percent, 47 touches), Facundo Medina (94.1 percent, 39 touches), Edmond Tapsoba (82.9 percent, 39 touches) and Jarell Quansah (88 percent, 34 touches) all had volume without penetration. Schick's 7.19 rating is the outlier — the goal aside, he was largely starved of service.

Mainz's 3-5-2 gave them the platform to press and recover, and the half-time scoreline reflects a side that has taken its chances from set plays and open play alike. Leverkusen's two-goal cushion lasted 24 minutes. The second half starts level, with Mainz holding the better chance creation and Leverkusen needing to solve the space problem Mainz's block has created.