Bayern’s 800th home fixture in the Bundesliga finished in a disappointing goalless draw against Mainz, as the bitter aftertaste of Dortmund and the mouth-watering prospect of Real appeared to weigh heavy on the unfamiliar home line-up, with a clutch of regulars playing only bit parts and chances thin on the ground.
The 69,000 capacity crowd at the Allianz Arena saw Jupp Heynckes’ side struggle to make headway in an opening period that bordered on the turgid at times, until a flurry of activity on the stroke of half-time when Anatoliy Tymoshchuk hit the post and Ivica Olic was denied from close range.
The introduction of Franck Ribery at the interval and Mario Gomez on the hour livened up the second half considerably, but FCB failed to put away the few half-chances they created and the match ended in stalemate.
The end of an 11-game winning run at home means FCB remain second in the standings on 64 points from 31 matches, and although their flickering hopes of snatching the title are still mathematically alive, the Reds are now eight points behind Dortmund with only three games to play. The Bavarians’ next match is the big one, as Real Madrid visit Munich for the Champions League semi-final first leg in just three days’ time.
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