The Bayern professionals celebrated happily, but not exuberantly, with the fans who had traveled with them. After difficult days with the excitement and criticism surrounding Noussair Mazraoui, coach Thomas Tuchel’s Munich team won 3-1 (2-1) at FSV Mainz 05 and defended third place in the Bundesliga with 20 points behind Bayer Leverkusen (22nd). ), VfB Stuttgart (21) and ahead of Borussia Dortmund (20).
“We’re happy that we won here. It’s always been a difficult game in recent years,” said goalkeeper Sven Ulreich on Sky. Kingsley Coman (11th), Harry Kane (16th) and Leon Goretzka (59th) scored for the record champions. Anthony Caci (43rd) scored the interim goal.
Mazaroui not in the squad
Mazraoui was missing from the squad due to injury; on Friday, Bayern announced that the Moroccan would remain in the team after his pro-Palestinian social media post. Bayern’s Israeli goalkeeper Daniel Peretz had tears in his eyes during the minute’s silence for the victims of the Hamas attack on Israel shortly before kick-off.
After kick-off, the 33,305 spectators saw an entertaining game, which was also the game between FSV coach Bo Svensson and his former coach Tuchel. With this success, Bayern ended a series of three defeats at Rheinhessen, who have slipped ever deeper into crisis since their last league win against Munich in April. Bayern’s 25th success in Mainz should provide momentum for the Champions League game on Tuesday (6.45 p.m.) at Galatasaray Istanbul.
Kane scores again
In the early stages, Mainz threatened to be overrun by the fast Bayern strikers. In the eleventh minute, Coman took the lead with a perfect shot into the bottom left corner after a precise pass from Leroy Sané. Barely five minutes later, Kane only had to resist a header from Goretzka to make it 2-0. It was the English striker’s ninth goal after eight matchdays.
The hosts continued to look very error-prone after the false start to the season, but had a great chance in the 13th minute with a header from Jae-Sung Lee. Bayern goalkeeper Ulreich was able to direct the ball to the post with a brilliant save, from where it jumped back into the field. Nevertheless, he is threatened with the bench against SV Darmstadt 98 in a week’s time, as national goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is about to make his comeback after a long injury break. Ulreich was powerless when Caci scored Mainz’s goal shortly before half-time.
Goretzka to the decision
After the restart it was Goretzka who made it 3-1 after good work from Jamal Musiala. His appearance was questionable because he suffered a flesh wound to his ankle during the international match against Mexico. Joshua Kimmich also reported back ready for action after a flu-like infection with a fever.
Mainz still had chances after that – at least for another goal. In the 69th minute, FC Bayern were lucky not to have scored an own goal. After a free kick cross, there was a misunderstanding between Kane and defender Matthijs de Ligt, whereupon the ball went just past the right post.
