That can cost the Munich title
Kimmich warns Bavaria of a dangerous negative trend
December 15, 2025 – 4:16 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
A dangerous pattern at FC Bayern continues against Mainz. Vice-captain Joshua Kimmich warns of far-reaching consequences.
It was only thanks to Harry Kane’s penalty goal three minutes before the end that FC Bayern were able to avert a bitter home defeat against bottom-placed Mainz 05 in the last home game of the year. With the 2-2 draw, the record champions remained unbeaten in the Bundesliga and were even able to extend their lead as league leaders in the end due to mistakes made by the competition from Leipzig and Dortmund.
However, the people of Munich were not really satisfied with the performance shown. A negative trend that has solidified since the exhilarating 2-1 win in the Champions League clash at Paris Saint-Germain continued against Mainz. Vice-captain Joshua Kimmich therefore spoke plainly after the game in the catacombs of the arena.
“We were behind very, very often in the last few weeks,” said Kimmich. Specifically, this has been the case in six of the last eight competitive games. In the game against Mainz, Bayern lost a 1-0 lead after a goal from Lennart Karl and fell behind 1-2 in the 67th minute.
The Munich team had to run behind against Sporting Lisbon (3:1), St. Pauli (3:1), Arsenal (1:3), Freiburg (6:2) and Union (2:2). Kimmich therefore put his finger verbally in the wound. “There are always situations that we can defend better. Especially the standard situation – we have to defend that better,” said the captain of the German national team.
8 of the 13 goals Bayern conceded in the last eight games resulted from dead balls – two of them from penalties. “We also have to allow fewer, so there are fewer corners, fewer free kicks, fewer throw-ins,” warned Kimmich. “We definitely have to improve that so that we don’t fall behind so often.”
However, Kimmich doesn’t just see the problem as being defensive. “I also have the feeling that we were no longer able to decide the games so early. Especially in the summer, we were often leading at the break. We haven’t been able to do that anymore,” said the 30-year-old. “In the future we have to arrange it so that we decide the games earlier.” Because, Kimmich continued: “If you don’t decide the games, then they simply remain open. Then everything is always possible in football – either through a standard or through a long ball or through a great pass.”
Bayern experienced this again against Mainz. With a view to the second half of the season, in which the title is at stake, Bayern believe that this is a dangerous pattern that has recently emerged in their game. “That,” warned sports director Max Eberl, “cannot happen to us in the decisive games that will come at some point. We have to be prepared for that!”