Bayern's Control at Mainz Comes at a Cost as Neuer Limps Off

Bayern München won 2-1 at Mainz 05 on Saturday, and the scoreline does the visitors no favours. Joshua Kimmich put them ahead in the 14th minute, Lennart Karl added a second in the 57th, and Phillip Tietz pulled one back in the 90th+3rd. Harry Kane assisted both Bayern goals.

Bayern had 69 per cent of the ball and 26 shots to Mainz's 10. They put nine on target to Mainz's one, and created six big chances to Mainz's one. Their expected goals figure was 2.78 against Mainz's 0.56. By any measure of chance creation, this was a one-sided contest.

Kimmich was named Man of the Match with 49 per cent of votes. He had 115 touches, ran 12.2 kilometres, won 67 per cent of his duels, and scored his first goal of the season. Karl's goal was his first in the Bundesliga for around two months.

Mainz's performance was improved compared to recent defeats against Werder Bremen, Bochum and Elversberg. They defended in a 3-5-2 and, despite seeing little of the ball, limited Bayern to a two-goal margin.

Bayern's recent run reads: a 2-2 draw with Arsenal in the Champions League on 21 October, a 3-1 win at Freiburg, a 6-1 DFB Pokal win over Magdeburg, a 2-2 draw with Dortmund, a 2-0 win at Atlético Madrid, and now this.

For a side that has seen Leon Goretzka, João Palhinha and Alexander Nübel depart since the summer, with Bara Ndiaye, Ismael Saibari and Nathaniel Brown the additions, the reliance on Kane's creativity and Kimmich's engine remains pronounced. Kane now has two more assists to his name, and Bayern have another win.