Bayern extend unbeaten run in Mainz

FC Bayern beat Mainz 3-1 on Saturday evening to extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to 11 games. Kingsley Coman and Harry Kane scored for Bayern early in the first half, Mainz pulling one back through Anthony Caci before half-time, but Leon Goretzka netted after the restart as Bayern went on to secure all three points.

The Bavarians started with Sven Ulreich in goal and Konrad Laimer, Matthijs de Ligt, Minjae Kim and Alphonso Davies in defence. Joshua Kimmich and Goretzka anchored a midfield featuring Leroy Sané, Jamal Musiala and Coman, with Kane at centre-forward. Bouna Sarr, Mathys Tel, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Thomas Müller took over from Goretzka, Sané, Musiala and Coman in the second half.

Up at half-time

The two sides felt each other out for a few minutes before Bayern upped the ante, Mainz keeper Robin Zentner making a fine save to deny Kimmich before Goretzka headed over. The champions often found space against the attack-minded home side and took an early lead when Sané invited Coman to fire past Zentner.

Ulreich made a strong save to direct a Jae-Sung Lee header onto the post, but Bayern soon doubled the advantage, Kane heading home from close range. Coman fired wide and Kane headed just over. Goretzka saw an effort blocked, but Mainz pulled one back before half-time, Caci finding the far corner of the net.

Goretzka seals it

Ulreich denied Stefan Bell and Zentner saved from Kimmich at the other end. Bell again fired just wide, but Musiala soon intercepted a pass and squared for Goretzka, who picked out the bottom corner.

Kim made a block against Ludovic Ajorque as Mainz went on the attack in the closing stages. Brajan Gruda hit the post before Danny da Costa just beat Tel to a Müller cross. Leandro Barreiro hit the side-netting as Bayern sealed three deserved points.

The result means Bayern have 20 points from eight matches, lying third in the table. The Bavarians will be back in action on Tuesday, when they travel to face Galatasaray in the Champions League.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen