Champions Bayern fall to on-song Mainz

With the championship wrapped up the previous weekend, a weary Bayern side fell 3-1 to on-form Mainz on Saturday in the third to last match of the Bundesliga season.

Jonathan Burkardt opened for the fast-starting hosts on 18 minutes, Moussa Niakhaté doubling the lead just nine minutes later. Robert Lerwandowski pulled one back on 34 minutes, the Bayern No.9 claiming the record for most away goals in a single season outright with 18, beating the 17 posted by Jupp Heynckes and Timo Werner.

After some doubtless choice words from boss Julian Nagelsmann at half-time, the visitors looked a far livelier proposition in the second period, but Leandro Barreiro made it 3-1 on the hour with a deflected shot and it was to prove a frustrating day at the office for the sluggish visitors.

The champions will take delivery of the Meisterschale prior to their final home match of the season against Stuttgart next weekend.

Nagelsmann made four changes to the team that sealed the league title with a 3-1 win against Dortmund las Saturday. Sven Ulreich, Niklas Süle, Marcel Sabitzer and Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting took over from Manuel Neuer (rested), Dayot Upamecano, Thomas Müller (absent with illness) and Kingsley Coman.

Behind at half-time

The first 33,305 capacity crowd at the Mewa Arena in two years saw the home side roar off the blocks, Burkardt blasting a drive from the tightest of angles off the underside of the crossbar and away to safety. The hosts struck the frame of the goal for the second time when Alexander Hack applied his head to a corner, and Burkardt’s opener came as no real surprise on the balance of play at that stage.

Niakhaté netted his side’s second with a simple finish from Anton Stach’s flick, before Lewandowski’s 20th goal in 23 Bundesliga appearances against the 05ers extended Bayern’s scoring record in the league to 79 games since they were last held in February 2020.

Second-half setback

With Jamal Musiala and Leroy Sane on for Sabitzer and Leon Goretzka, the Reds started the second half furiously with chances for Serge Gnabry and Lewandowski, but Barreiro’s shot on the break took a huge deflection and looped over Ulreich to restore the hosts’ two-goal advantage.

It could have been worse for Nagelsmann’s off-key side but Burkardt missed a sitter and Karim Onisiwo crashed a drive off the bar. Zerofivers’ keeper Robin Zentner was called into action to prevent an own goal at full stretch and Lewandowski headed just wide, but it was ultimately a case of the dustcart after the Lord Mayor’s show for the freshly crowned champions.

The result leaves Bayern on 75 points from their 32 matches. The Bavarians are back in action next Sunday when they entertain Stuttgart after receiving the championship shield prior to kick-off.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Chris Hamley