Moussa Diaby ends long Bayer Leverkusen scoring wait with winner against Mainz

Issa Said October 10, 2026

Moussa Diaby ended his goal drought with Bayer Leverkusen as his side beat Mainz 4-3 in the Bundesliga on Saturday.

The French winger scored Leverkusen’s fourth goal in the 65th minute at the MEWA ARENA, receiving the ball on the edge of the penalty area before sending a powerful left-footed shot beyond the goalkeeper.

It was Diaby’s first goal for Bayer Leverkusen since returning to the club during the summer transfer window from Al-Ittihad. The 27-year-old had failed to score in his previous four appearances for the German side.

His latest strike also brought an end to a barren run that began during his time with Al-Ittihad. Diaby had not scored since finding the net twice against Al-Ettifaq in the 33rd round of last season’s Roshn Saudi League on 14 May.

More significantly, the goal was his first for Bayer Leverkusen in approximately three and a half years. His previous goal for the club had come on 8 April 2023, when he scored during a 3-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the 27th round of the Bundesliga.

Bayer Leverkusen said the goal came 1,278 days after Diaby’s previous strike for the club and represented his 50th goal for the team. He has also provided 47 assists in 177 matches for the German side.

Diaby originally left Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2023 to join Aston Villa. His time in England lasted only one season, after which he moved to Al-Ittihad, where he spent the following two seasons.

The win over Mainz saw Bayer Leverkusen claim a seven-goal contest after the visitors established their decisive advantage in the second half. Diaby’s goal provided the key moment in a match in which Mainz scored three times but could not prevent the away side from securing victory.

The result also marked a notable return to scoring form for Diaby, who had made his name as an influential attacker during his previous spell with Bayer Leverkusen. His goal against Mainz gave him a landmark 50th goal for the club after his move back from Saudi Arabia.