After falling to a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Union Berlin last week, Leverkusen - on the back of their UEFA Champions League playoff success - were looking to get back to winning ways on the domestic front.
However, they were facing a resurgent Mainz side, who had picked up 16 points from a possible 30 since the appointment of Fischer. It was the hosts who almost got off to a flyer when Jonas Hofmann unleashed a venomous effort from distance, but Daniel Batz was alert to palm the ball away.
It took until just after the quarter-hour mark for the visitors to go close to netting the opener, as Paul Nebel’s low drive was parried into the path of Phillip Tietz, only for his goalbound effort to be blocked.
Leverkusen dominated possession, claiming 70% in the first half, yet they struggled to break down the stubborn Mainz defence. In fact, the hosts were restricted to a solitary shot on target until the 43rd minute, when Jarell Quansah found space in the box to fire on goal, but his effort was blocked.
With little change following the restart, Kasper Hjulmand rang the changes on the hour mark, and two of those substitutes, Martin Terrier and Ibrahim Maza, combined before slipping in Patrik Schick, whose effort was superbly saved by Batz.
Die Werkself continued to push for the opening goal and ramped up the pressure, only to be hit with a sucker punch as Mainz broke the deadlock after a swift counter-attack.
A Leverkusen corner was gathered by Batz, who booted the ball upfield to send Paul Nebel racing down the right flank, and his whipped ball to the edge of the box was beautifully swept home on the volley by Sheraldo Becker.
The hosts appeared stunned by the opener and failed to regain the composure required to level the scoreline, as Fischer’s men battened down the hatches with a quarter-hour remaining.
While Leverkusen dominated possession in those final 15 minutes, they rarely threatened until the 88th minute when Christian Kofane broke through the Mainz defence and his square ball was turned in by an unlikely source - not his strike partner - but centre-back Quansah, who swept home to earn a draw.
The late point keeps Leverkusen within reach of the top four as they sit three points behind fourth-placed VfB Stuttgart in sixth place, while Mainz move a point further away from the relegation playoff place, but just three above VfL Wolfsburg in 17th place.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Daniel Batz (Mainz)
