Mainz 05 opens the door for title rivals FC Bayern Munich

The championship is just a formality. Mainz 05 inflicted Bayern Munich’s first league defeat of the season and brought more excitement to the Bundesliga. Two goals from Jae-Sung Lee (41st and 61st minute) gave coach Bo Hendricksen’s team a deserved 2-1 (1-0) victory. Mainz can now even dream of Europe.

It was on November 22nd that Uli Hoeneß, a member of the supervisory board at FC Bayern, tried to declare the title race over. “What I can promise is the championship”said the former club boss at an event organized by the Swiss newspaper “Finanz und Wirtschaft”. A little more than three weeks later, this promise is increasingly in danger. Although Bayern remain top of the league, their lead over Bayer Leverkusen is now only four points.

Burkardt’s injury prevents Mainz from taking the lead

Bayern started strong in Mainz, but then they revealed major problems against an opponent who was difficult to play against. Michael Olise hit the outside post from 16 meters in the sixth minute and missed the only notable opportunity for the record champions in the first half.

Mainz didn’t back down like many of Bayern’s opponents, but played along and put coach Vincent Kompany’s team under pressure – and they couldn’t cope with it. Jonathan Burkardt then had the great opportunity to run freely towards the opponent’s goal from the halfway line in the 13th minute, but he sustained a muscle injury shortly before the penalty area. Burkardt finished (harmlessly), but then had to go out.

Ironically, the Mainz guarantor of the last few weeks, the 24-year-old has scored five times in the last four games and already ten times this season. Now his team had to make do without Burkardt, but they gave the impression that they wanted to win this game for him.

Burkardt replacement Sieb becomes a double preparer

Anthony Caci missed another great chance for Mainz after a corner (29th), but they still celebrated shortly before the break. After a chain of errors from Eric Dier, Min-Jae Kim and Michael Olise, a ricochet from Armindo Sieb (who came on for Burkardt) landed on the foot of Lee, who made it 1-0 (41′). The deserved lead and also great hope for the Bundesliga competition, which wanted to get closer to Bayern.

And that became even more likely in the 61st minute. Sieb shone again as a preparer for his cross and Lee once again in the center as an ice-cold enforcer – the 2-0 win for Mainz and Bayern’s first Bundesliga defeat was now finally very close.

Despite Sané’s goal, FC Bayern were too harmless without Kane

Mainz also seemed to confirm its reputation as Bayern’s feared away opponent. The 05ers were on the verge of celebrating their third win in their fourth league home game since 2021 – and they were getting closer to it with every minute. Although the Munich team pressed, the Hendricksen team defended these attacks quite confidently and easily for a long time.

But things got tight in the 87th minute. A shot from Joshua Kimmich was blocked so unfortunately for Mainz that the ball landed on the foot of Sané, who slotted into the empty goal.

However, Bayern lacked the creativity and lightness of the past few months, and the absence of Harry Kane was also noticeable; the league leaders otherwise did not pose any threat in the center of the attack. Accordingly, Mainz’s victory was no longer in danger. Not only does Bayern’s lead over Leverkusen melt away, but Mainz suddenly greets the competition in the race for the European Cup as sixth in the table.

Mainz in Frankfurt, Munich against Leipzig

Mainz has to play in Frankfurt next matchday (December 21st, 3:30 p.m.). Bayern will play against RB Leipzig on Friday evening (December 20th, 8:30 p.m.).