Bayern see off Mainz

FC Bayern beat Mainz 3-0 at the Allianz Arena on Saturday afternoon. The win means Bayern need only one more victory to seal the Bundesliga title. Leroy Sané and Michael Olise handed Munich a two-goal lead before half-time, with Eric Dier rounding off the final scoreline in the closing stages.

The Bavarians started with Jonas Urbig in goal and Konrad Laimer, Dier, Minjae Kim and Josip Stanišić in a back four. Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlović anchored a midfield featuring Olise, Serge Gnabry and Sané, with Harry Kane up front. Sacha Boey replaced Kim at half-time, with Kingsley Coman, Leon Goretzka, Thomas Müller and Jonah Kusi-Asare coming on for Gnabry, Pavlović, Sané and Kane in the second half.

The match was special for Müller, who made his 500th Bundesliga appearance when he came on to a standing ovation from the 75,000 crowd at the Allianz Arena, and Kusi-Asare, who made his Bundesliga debut.

Sané and Olise on target

Bayern dominated possession from the off, but Mainz had the first chance when Nadiem Amiri’s long ball found Jonathan Burkardt, who fired over from close range. Keeper Robin Zentner denied Sané before Stanišić sliced wide, but Munich took the lead when a Laimer pullback found Sané, who fired past Zentner.

A Kane effort was blocked before Bayern doubled up on the break, Laimer setting up Olise, who found the near corner of the net. Zentner saved from Gnabry as Bayern went into half-time two up.

Dier rounds off win

Bayern went looking to put the game to bed after the restart, but Mainz enjoyed a spell in command. Nikolas Veratschnig miscued before Urbig made a fine save to deny Amiri and kept out a deflected Danny da Costa shot.

The pendulum swung the other way again and Sané saw a curler go just wide before his chip over Zentner hit the post. Sané saw another shot saved, but Vincent Kompany's men made it three when Dier rose high to head in from Olise’s corner.

The result means Bayern have 75 points from 31 matches. Bayer Leverkusen’s victory over Augsburg meant the champagne remained on ice, with Munich still eight points clear of their closest rivals with three matches to go. The Bavarians will be back in action next Saturday when they travel to face RB Leipzig.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen