Mainz captain Widmer proud despite late Leverkusen equaliser

Mainz came within minutes of a statement win in Leverkusen, only to be denied at the death. Still, captain Silvan Widmer struck a balanced tone after the final whistle.

1. FSV Mainz 05 were moments away from securing all three points before Leverkusen’s late leveller sealed a 1-1 draw and captain Silvan Widmer did not hide his disappointment.

“A late goal always hurts,” Widmer said after the match. “Leverkusen were able to bring quality off the bench. In the end, though, it’s a deserved draw.”

Mainz had defended resolutely for long stretches, particularly in the first half when Leverkusen dominated possession but struggled to create clear-cut chances.

“They had a lot of the ball in the first half but hardly any real opportunities,” Widmer noted. “You usually can’t completely stop a team like that. We almost managed it – it’s a pity.”

Despite the late setback, Widmer emphasised the positives and looked ahead to a demanding schedule. With Bundesliga fixtures and upcoming Conference League matches on the horizon, Mainz face a challenging period.

“The next few weeks will be tough, especially with the Conference League games, but we will give everything.”

For Mainz, the draw may feel bittersweet – pride in the performance, frustration in the timing – but the captain’s message was clear: resilience will define what comes next.