FC Bayern faced FSV Mainz 05 today and was determined to secure a victory in this away game. In recent years, Mainz has frequently managed to give the record champions a hard time at home.
Bayern once again went into the match with personnel concerns but were still able to field a strong starting lineup. Nathaniel Brown and Aleksandar Pavlović were named to the starting lineup.
Bayern had to work hard against a physically strong opponent but ultimately won 2–1, maintaining a commanding lead for much of the match.
Kimmich gives Bayern the lead
Right from the start, Mainz played boldly and earned the first two set pieces. It took Bayern five or six minutes to adjust to the hosts’ style of play. But then things quickly improved. Frequent ball recoveries ensured that Mainz 05 never got a moment’s rest. Bayern’s early attacks were still a bit disjointed.
After just under a quarter of an hour, however, that changed. A turnover by Mainz allowed Harry Kane to make his mark. He immediately set up Joshua Kimmich, who took a shot from a central position. Kimmich struck the ball perfectly, and it flew into the top corner for a 1-0 lead! Nathaniel Brown and Dayot Upamecano had chances to add to the lead shortly afterward. After that, the game slowed down a bit. Bayern had the match under control, but Mainz started to gain the upper hand in the one-on-one battles.
Shortly before halftime, FC Bayern suffered another setback. Manuel Neuer missed the ball on a free kick, and Jae-sung Lee was able to push it over the line. To make matters worse, Neuer was injured in the process. However, the goal was disallowed following a VAR review. It took a long time, but in the end, it was ruled offside. Neuer was replaced by Urbig, and shortly afterward, the first half ended.
Karl extends the lead for FCB
Both teams started the second half without making any substitutions. At first, Mainz played quite well, pressing higher up the field and attacking, but Bayern quickly regained control. Karl came close in the 55th minute. Two minutes later, however, he slotted the ball home from close range off an assist from Ballon d’Or winner Kane. Kimmich also had a shot from a tight angle after an hour.
The second goal gave Bayern even more confidence. They usually cleared the ball from their own defensive third with low, organized passes. They also had a few other small chances. Mainz tried to switch things up offensively, but Bayern’s counter-pressing remained too strong. There wasn’t a real period of sustained pressure; instead, Dayot Upamecano headed the ball off the crossbar. Deep into stoppage time, Philipp Tietz made it 1–2 with a beautiful header into the far corner. That was the final score of the match.