Bundesliga ticker: Mainz 05 shocks the unimaginative FC Bayern

FC Bayern Munich suffered their first defeat of this Bundesliga season. The football record champions lost 1:2 (0:1) at FSV Mainz 05 after a weak performance. South Korean Jae-Sung Lee scored both goals for the 05ers (41st minute/60th). In the final phase, the Munich team only managed to score a goal through Leroy Sané (87th).

Bayern’s lead over Bayer Leverkusen, now their first pursuer, has shrunk to four points due to the bankruptcy. On Sunday, Eintracht Frankfurt could even get within three points with a win at RB Leipzig.

Bayern coach Vincent Kompany warned that it was “always dangerous,” especially in the Mainz stadium. In the second round of the DFB Cup, Bayern won 4-0. The coach was still right. Kompany had to do without several top performers on matchday 14 – including star striker Harry Kane, who was missing again after tearing his muscle fiber.

After a fumble in the first few minutes, Bayern had their first big chance. After Thomas Müller won the ball deep in the opposing half, Michael Olise hit the post (6th). It was Munich’s tenth aluminum goal of this Bundesliga season.

In front of 33,305 spectators, Bayern had a lot of trouble. The Kompany team was almost caught off guard by a counterattack. After strong preparatory work from Lee, 05 goal scorer Jonathan Burkardt narrowly missed the Munich goal with his attempt (13th).

Bitter for the hosts: The striker had to be treated after the action and even replaced because of muscular problems in his thigh. Armindo Sieb came into the game for him. Only a short time later, the Mainz supporters called for a penalty when Lee fell in the penalty area. Referee Frank Willenborg was right to allow play to continue.

Bayern Munich’s offensive remains harmless

“We have to have more courage,” Mainz coach Bo Henriksen said before the game. And the 05ers actually played with a lot of courage and hardly allowed Bayern to get a chance. Out of the hustle and bustle, Anthony Caci came free to finish after a corner. His shot did not cause any problems for FCB keeper Daniel Peretz, who replaced Manuel Neuer (broken rib) again (29th).

Shortly before the break, Lee scored to make it 1-0 for the underdogs. The Munich defense collectively didn’t look good at all. After the break, the Munich team tried to generate more pressure. But the Mainz team continued to defend themselves bravely – and made it 2-0 from nowhere. As with the first goal, Sieb set up for Lee.

Even after that, FCB didn’t really pose a threat. The Munich team sometimes seemed powerless and lacking in ideas against a now low-lying Mainz team. A header from Jamal Musiala, who was otherwise pale this time, rushed over the goal from a free kick (74′).

Bayern were only dominant in the final phase. Sané brought hope back to Bayern fans. The Mainz team managed to take the lead over time with skill.

Union Berlin – VfL Bochum 1:1 (1:1)

The duel between 1. FC Union Berlin and VfL Bochum was interrupted for more than 25 minutes shortly before the end after a scandal. Bochum goalkeeper Patrick Drewes was hit in the head by an object thrown from the Union block. Both teams initially went to the dressing rooms, only returned after a long break and the game ended legally with a 1:1 (1:1).

Since Bochum could no longer make a substitution, attacker Philipp Hofmann had to go into goal. Stadium spokesman Christian Arbeit had previously appealed to fans to stop throwing objects. However, the Berlin fans also mocked Drewes with mocking chants. It initially remained unclear whether VfL would lodge a protest against the rating. The referee of the game was Martin Petersen.

The incident obscured the fact that Bochum, bottom of the Bundesliga, still without a win, managed to win a point despite being long outnumbered. In front of 22,012 spectators, Koji Miyoshi was shown a red card in the 13th minute for a serious foul. Ibrahima Sissoko gave VfL the lead (23′). Benedict Hollerbach (33rd) equalized.

Borussia Mönchengladbach – Holstein Kiel 4:1 (3:1)

After the fifth defeat in a row, staying in the league for Holstein Kiel is becoming a long way off. The promoted team, still without a win away from home, also lost 1:4 (1:3) at Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday and is in a relegation zone with five points after 14 games.

The Gladbachers, on the other hand, are continuing on their way to a successful end to the year. For the first time under coach Gerardo Seoane, the team remained undefeated in their sixth home game in a row, winning five of them and making up ground in the table with 21 points.

In front of 52,210 spectators at Borussia Park, Tim Kleindienst (1st minute), Robin Hack (26th) and Alassane Plea (43rd/79th) scored the goals for the hosts. Armin Gigovic (30th) scored for Kiel.

FC Augsburg – Bayer Leverkusen 0:2 (0:2)

The early starters from Bayer Leverkusen have increased the pressure on the leaders from Munich after FC Bayern’s first slip-up. Thanks to a cool performance, coach Xabi Alonso’s always wide-awake team won their seventh competitive game in a row in a 2-0 (2-0) win against FC Augsburg and reduced the gap to the German soccer record champions in the table to just four points.

The patient and calm double winner from Leverkusen, who was notorious for his last-minute goals last season, has already scored seven times in the opening quarter of an hour this season. In the home game next Saturday against SC Freiburg, Bayer can move even closer to FC Bayern at the end of the year.

The Augsburgers are challenged in their last game of 2024 against newly promoted Kiel in order not to completely screw up the final spurt. However, they have to do without captain and defense chief Jeffrey Gouweleeuw because of his fifth yellow card. Martin Terrier in the 14th minute and national player Florian Wirtz (40th) robbed the Augsburg fans of hope of a surprise against the confident Champions League starter in front of 29,310 spectators at half time.