Bayer Leverkusen went 11 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga after Mainz goalkeeper Robin Zentner's howler helped secure them a 2-1 win.
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- Leverkusen secure 2-1 win over Mainz
- Helped by keeper Zentner's howler
- Alonso's side 11 points clear at the top
- (C)Getty Images
WHAT HAPPENED?
After early goals from Leverkusen's Granit Xhaka and Mainz's Dominik Kohr, Robert Andrich scored the decisive goal in a 2-1 home win for Xabi Alonso's team on Friday night. However, it came in fortuitous fashion as goalkeeper Zentner failed to keep out Andrich's speculative, long-range effort. The visitors' luck was compounded when Jessic Ngankam was sent off 10 minutes from time.
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- Getty
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Bayer Leverkusen, who have been given the mocking nickname of Neverkusen due to missing chances to win trophies, particularly between 2000-02, have never won the Bundesliga. But with just 11 games to go, they are opening up a big gap ahead of Harry Kane's Bayern. They are unbeaten this season and are on course for a treble, as they are still in the Europa League and DFB-Pokal.
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WHAT NEXT?
Bayern Munich can close the gap back to eight points on Saturday when they host RB Leipzig. Leverkusen are next in league action on March 3 away to Koln, whereas Thomas Tuchel's men travel to Freiburg two days prior.
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