For one half, FC Bayern Munich showed that the priority was the Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain. But even conceding three goals didn’t stop them from a 4:3 (0:3) victory in the Bundesliga against 1. FSV Mainz 05.
“The first half was below our standards, which make us so strong this season. We weren’t there and said during the break that we had to bring more energy and intensity into the game. We knew we had the quality to hurt them – and that’s what happened. After the first goal at the latest, everyone believed that there would be this great comeback.”said Harry Kane, who scored the winning goal, in the Sportschau interview.
And Mainz coach Urs Fischer complained: “It’s annoying for everyone, it’s unnecessary for us to give this game away. But a fantastic first half isn’t enough against Bayern this season. There was no sign of that in the second half, we let up and invited Bayern. We were punished for that.”
Bayern’s Ndiaye as uncertainty factor, Kohr scores for Mainz
It has been the case for years that teams in the Bundesliga should be happy when they face FC Bayern as opponents at the end of a season – and why that is the case was first shown on Saturday afternoon in Mainz. The previous week, Munich had secured the 35th championship title in the club’s history, then made it into the DFB Cup final at Bayer Leverkusen (2-0) and now has the first leg of the Champions League semi-final at Paris St. Germain (Tuesday, 9 p.m.) in sight. The perfect starting position for Mainz – at least for half time.
Bayern coach Vincent Kompany rotated, as he had done several times this season – but this time even more. Joshua Kimmich and Dayot Upamecano, for example, were not in the squad at all, Bara Sapoko Ndiaye made his starting debut – and that became a problem for the record champions. The 18-year-old was committed and courageous, but after 20 minutes of action so far, he was overwhelmed by the aggressive Mainz team, who repeatedly stole the ball from him.
Fischer’s team won a lot of the ball and then showed great quality on the counterattack, coupled with not too much intensity in the Bavarian defense. However, the first goal came from a corner, after which Kaishu Sano handled the ball outstandingly and crossed it straight to Dominik Kohr, who scored with a direct shot (15th).
Munich’s Urbig cannot defuse every counterattack
As a result, Bayern keeper Jonas Urbig saved his team, which was literally overrun by Mainz’s rapid attacks, from falling behind several times. First, Manuel Neuer’s replacement made a strong double save against Sheraldo Becker and Nadiem Amiri (20th), then he reacted strongly after a slipped cross from Becker (22nd). But at some point he too was powerless.
After one of the many dangerous counterattacks, Urbig was there to counter Amiri’s low shot in the near corner, but Paul Nebel grabbed the rebound and shot the ball into the net to make it 2-0 (29th). It was similar shortly before the half-time whistle, when Urbig directed an Amiri shot onto the crossbar and this time Becker was faster than the Bayern defense and sank it from a few centimeters (45th + 2).
Bayern are 3-0 behind after ages, Kompany reacts
It was the first time since 2008 that Munich went into halftime with a 3-0 deficit in the Bundesliga. And not only was there no sign of the championship glory of the previous season at the back, almost nothing happened in the forward game either. Thanks to an opportunity from Alphonso Davies, who hit the side netting in the 40th minute, the Kompany team managed an expected goals value of 0.19 before the break.
However, Bayern’s coach didn’t want to leave it like that, he made a substitution immediately, Harry Kane and Michael Olise led the team back onto the field as jokers. The Munich game changed accordingly, but Nicolas Jackson missed the first high-class player against Daniel Batz (49th). After a cross from Konrad Laimer, the striker got another opportunity a little later, this time he took advantage of it with a volley to make it 1-3 (53′).
Three goals in ten minutes – and Bayern win against Mainz
Afterwards, Mainz left nothing to be desired; a shot from Jamal Musiala from 21 meters past the goal was initially the most dangerous thing Bayern managed (68′). But then Olise once again showed his elite class, as so often he moved in from the right side and flicked it perfectly into the far corner for the goal (73′). Bayern had already been behind for a long time against SC Freiburg (3:2) and against VfB Stuttgart (4:2) and won in the end – also in Mainz?
There was a lot of evidence of this when Musiala equalized in the 80th minute. And it only took another three minutes before the ball was back in the Mainz net: Batz fumbled after a cross from Musiala and put the ball in front of Kane, who only had to push it in from a few meters (83′). Once again the impression was confirmed that no matter what stands in Bayern’s way this season, they will still win.
In Mainz, Kompany’s team, who will not be in the dugout on Tuesday against PSG due to his third yellow card, did not miss their ninth win in a row and ensured a successful dress rehearsal for the game in Paris. In the Bundesliga, Bayern continue next Saturday against 1. FC Heidenheim (3:30 p.m.), Mainz wants to make up for the rescue by winning a point at FC St. Pauli 24 hours later – with a win against Munich, relegation would have been perfect.
