Mainz inflicted on the Bavarians their first defeat of the season in the German championship this Saturday, during the 14th day.
By conceding its first defeat of the season in the Bundesliga on the lawn of Mainz (2-1), Bayern opened a door into which Leverkusen, reigning champion, rushed by winning at Augsburg (2-0) SATURDAY. Bayern’s nine-point lead over Bayer 04 on the evening of the 11th day (29 against 20) was reduced to four points (33 against 29) in the space of two weeks (the ranking here), with Munich slowed down far from their base (1-1 in Dortmund and 2-1 defeat in Mainz) when the Werkself won three times. Sunday (7:30 p.m.), Eintracht Frankfurt, third with 27 points, travels to RB Leipzig (4th, 24 pts) and can come within three points of Bayern.
The assertion, in an excess of confidence after a good series in Munich in the fall, by the honorary president of Bayern Uli Hoeness, who had assured in mid-November that the title was already in the pocket of the Munich residents, was probably premature. For Vincent Kompany, this is his first defeat in the Bundesliga, after ten victories and three draws. Injuries have multiplied recently for the Munich players, and the Belgian technician has once again had to do without the services of Harry Kane, in the recovery phase after his muscle tear two weeks ago in Dortmund.
Mainz deserved to win. We’re not looking for excuses. We made too many mistakes today.
Max Eberl, Bayern sporting director
Manuel Neuer (rib), Kingsley Coman (hamstring), and Serge Gnabry (hamstring) were absent and Dayot Upamecano was on the bench, leaving his place alongside South Korean Kim Min-jae in central defense.
Mainz’s first goal came from a header error from Kim, who poorly cleared a ball which Armindo Sieb took advantage of to serve Lee Jae-sung at the end of the first period. And on the hour mark, it was Anthony Caci who played Kim to give Sieb, Lee then exploiting the cross to score Mainz’s second goal. The reduction of the score at the end of the match by Leroy Sané only reignited the suspense, in vain for the Munich residents. “Mainz deserved to win. We’re not looking for excuses. We made too many mistakes today. We came here to win the match.”recognized Bayern sporting director Max Eberl at the microphone of broadcaster Sky.
Bayern has stalled a bit in the last two weeks, notably with an elimination in the round of 16 of the German Cup against Bayer Leverkusen (1-0). For the last match of 2024, Leipzig travels to Munich on Friday (8:30 p.m.). “We have to get back up and take points on Friday against Leipzig. For a match it should still be fine”slipped Eberl, while Bayern played their seventh match in three weeks on Saturday.
Terrier goalscorer with Leverkusen
In Augsburg, Bayer Leverkusen did not miss the opportunity by winning quite logically 2 to 0. For his first start since his broken right forearm, the Frenchman Martin Terrier put his team on the right track rails (14th), before Florian Wirtz sheltered his team (2-0, 40th). After a big slump between the end of September and the beginning of November, Xabi Alonso’s men scored a seventh consecutive success in all competitions, notably taking the scalp of Inter Milan on Tuesday in the Champions League.
Also note M’Gladbach’s card against Kiel (4-1) with a double from Alasanne Pléa. No winner between Union Berlin and Bochum (1-1), in a match interrupted after a projectile was thrown at a player. Finally, Werder won on the St-Pauli pitch (0-2).
