Joshua Kimmich and Lennart Karl delivered a 2‑1 triumph for Bayern at Mainz on Matchday 9, preserving their league‑top spot. It was a clutch performance.
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Mainz 1-2 Bayern MunichGoals: 0-1 Kimmich 14′ (assist: Kane), 0-2 Karl 57′ (assist: Kane), 1-2 Tietz 90’+3 (assist: Hollerbach)
Mainz, who made four changes from the side that lost to Elversberg last time out, were looking to reverse their fortunes after suffering three successive league defeats.
Bayern, meanwhile, came into this clash having followed up last week’s Klassiker draw against Borussia Dortmund with a UEFA Champions League win over Atlético Madrid. Their starting XI included Manuel Neuer, who became the oldest Bayern player of all time on his 550th Bundesliga appearance.
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Mainz and Bayern Munich served up a physical encounter at the MEWA Arena. – Alex Grimm –>
Mainz started brightly, yet Bayern soon seized possession. After a quiet opening, they opened the scoring just before the 15‑minute mark.
Harry Kane recovered a stray pass from Jae‑Sung Lee and fed Kimmich, who blasted a top‑corner strike from the edge of the box. Bayern kept pressing, while Robin Zentner denied both Nathaniel Brown and Dayot Upamecano before the half‑hour.
Kimmich fires from distance to give Bayern the lead. – IMAGO/Heiko Becker
Just before halftime Mainz thought they’d equalised when Lee headed in after Neuer mishandled a free‑kick, but VAR ruled it offside.
The incident also saw Neuer sustain an injury, forcing his substitution for Jonas Urbig and casting a sour note on his milestone afternoon.
Neuer receives treatment for a foot injury after Mainz’s disallowed goal. – IMAGO/Heiko Becker