The victory moved Mainz up to 14th spot with 27 points, just three ahead of the relegation zone and kept Leverkusen 10th on 32.

Zidan broke the deadlock in the 34th minute when he controlled a cross from the right and fired home to stun the home crowd.

Four minutes past the hour mark, the 25-year-old Zidan put his side two up when he connected with a fine cross to head home past the advancing goalkeeper.

This was Zidan's eighth goal with Mainz since joining on loan from Werder Bremen in the summer.

Paul Freier pulled one back for Leverkusen five minutes from time.

In Wolfsburg, Hamburg narrowed the gap with leaders Bayern Munich to three points after beating the hosts 1-0 thanks to a Benjamin Lauth winner in the 21st minute.

Bundesliga title holders Bayern Munich are yet to play Schalke on Sunday.