Rampant Reds thrash sorry Mainz

FC Bayern beat FSV Mainz 6-1 on Saturday afternoon. Jean-Paul Boëtius put the away side ahead, but Benjamin Pavard and David Alaba turned the tide before half-time. Ivan Perišić twisted the knife after the restart, Kingsley Coman, Robert Lewandowski and sub Alphonso Davies making things awkward for the visitors.

The Bavarians started with Manuel Neuer in goal and Pavard, Niklas Süle, Lucas Hernández and Alaba in a back four. Thiago, Joshua Kimmich and Philippe Coutinho featured in midfield, with Coman and Perišić out wide, looking to serve striker Lewandowski. Thomas Müller and Davies took over from Coutinho and Perišić midway through the second half, debut man Michaël Cuisance coming on for Thiago with ten minutes to go.

Individual class to turn the tide

The 75,000 capacity crowd at the Allianz Arena saw Lewandowski give notice of Bayern's approach he fired inches wide from 20 yards, but Mainz took an early lead when Boëtius connected with a Ronaël Pierre-Gabriel cross to head past Neuer. The champions went looking for a reply, but their attacks proved uninspired against the visitors' dogged defending.

Bayern got closer and closer to a goal around the half-hour mark, Perišić firing wide from close range before Mainz keeper Florian Müller made a fine save from an Alaba free-kick. Müller was called into action when he denied an own-goal, but a goal was coming and arrived when Pavard volleyed a Perišić cross into the far corner of the net. Müller denied Kimmich, but Alaba's sumptuous free-kick screamed its way into the top corner of the net, and Bayern had turned the tide by the time match official Markus Schmidt blew for half-time.

Thrashing after half-time

Mainz were unable to stem the bleeding in the second half. Perišić headed past Müller, Coman going for the jugular when he converted a Kimmich cross. Lewandowski and Davies added their names to the scoresheet as the away side fell apart, and referee Schmidt put Mainz out of their misery.

The result means Bayern have seven points from three matches. A number of Bayern pros will be away on national team duty during the international break before the Reds return to action on 14 September, when they travel to face RB Leipzig.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen