Title within reach after 3-0 victory over Mainz

The home crowd at the sold-out Allianz Arena were looking forward to something special before kick-off on Saturday. A 13^th victory in Bayern’s 16^th home match this campaign was one of the requirements for celebrating the 34^th championship title at home. In addition, FC Augsburg had to hold closest rivals Bayer Leverkusen to a draw.

Beer showers on a windy and rather cold Saturday in April? The whole Bayern family would have loved that. FC Bayern did their homework and beat FSV Mainz 3-0, but the champagne remained on ice because Leverkusen beat Augsburg 2-0.

“Now it’s in our own hands”

Christoph Freund was still pleased: “We absolutely wanted to win the match and achieved it with aplomb, we kept another clean sheet,” said the FC Bayern sporting director: “We’re a step closer. It feels good, we’re happy. Now it’s in our own hands in the next game.”

“We’re close to our goal. We want to seal it as soon as possible. At the end of the day we must focus on winning our matches,” Serge Gnabry had said before the match. Aleksandar Pavlović added: “I’d be incredibly glad to win the championship title with my home club and be able to present the fans with the Meisterschale. It would be stunning.”

The goal was within reach for the first time on 26 April, and although Jonathan Burkardt only just miscued early in the match, FC Bayern asserted their authority, pressed the visitors into their own half and restricted their build-up play. Munich went for the one-on-ones, the industrious Konrad Laimer in particular.

Bayern’s reward was utter dominance at their home stadium. They enjoyed almost 80 percent possession, with Mainz chasing the ball. The visitors were lucky when Leroy Sané saw an effort saved and Josip Stanišic miscued a volley. Bayern wanted to take an early lead to discourage Leverkusen, who were in action over in the Rhineland, but it went the other way around when the Werkself took the lead against Augsburg after only 13 minutes.

Leverkusen spoil the party

But FC Bayern were not to be knocked off their stride. On the contrary, Sané handed them the lead when he scored his 50^th Bundesliga goal after 27 minutes. The Germany international has been involved in ten goals after 16 Bundesliga matches so far in 2025, scoring seven and setting up three. The goal boosted Bayern even more and they made it two on the break when Laimer set up Michael Olise, who found the near corner of the net from a tight angle (40’).

It was Munich’s 39^th first-half goal in 31 matches, a Bundesliga high. Overwhelmed Mainz had been restricted to nothing up to that point, but Leverkusen spoiled the party when they made it two on the stroke of half-time.

FC Bayern showed their disappointment at delayed celebrations for a short spell after the restart. Jonas Urbig, who deputised for Manuel Neuer again, was called into action twice and made strong saves. “In the first 15 minutes after the break we gave the ball away too often,” commented Serge Gnabry. Urbig dove at full stretch to keep out Nadiem Amiri’s fine curler before he reacted well to a deflected da Costa shot.

But the two chances were a wake-up call. FC Bayern soon reasserted their authority and went on to seal their 14^th clean sheet so far this campaign – the last time Munich boasted such a number after 31 Bundesliga matches was in 2007/08.

Müller: It’s weird, somehow

Bayern were back in attack too: Leroy Sané’s chip over Zentner hit the post after Olise’s forensic pass (62’). FCB were back in control and Sané hit the woodwork again (80’) before the Bayern fans had their noisiest moment when Thomas Müller came on and made his 500^th Bundesliga appearance. “I’m glad, I must thank the fans today. Slowly but surely I’m understanding it was my second-to-last home match. I’m not wistful or sad, but it feels weird, somehow. After 500 Bundesliga matches, some of which were home games, you enter the stadium as usual. Next season I’ll need a ticket,” the milestone man said after the match.

Eric Dier put the game to bed (84’) seconds after Müller had come on. “Bayern were very efficient today,” said Mainz head coach Bo Henriksen: “If so, any team will lose here.” It was Olise’s 12^th assist this campaign, more than any other player in his first season at Bayern. 17-year-old forward Jonah Kusi-Asare from Sweden came on with three minutes to go to make his pro debut.

“We’re happy with the match, we were dominant for 90 minutes and are a step closer to our goal,” said Aleksandar Pavlović: “Now our focus is on the next match in Leipzig.”

Heated atmosphere in Leipzig

The atmosphere will be heated again when Bayern travel to Saxony next Saturday. FC Bayern need a victory on the road to seal their 34^th championship title without having to worry about Leverkusen: “It was a crucial victory today,” said Thomas Müller: “We could rely on everyone who played. Everything went according to plan.” Vincent Kompany commented: “We’ll have another tough match in Leipzig, but there’ll be many moments when we can celebrate Thomas. Now we want to take the three points.” Very special points.

The reaction: