Jamal Musiala completes Bayern Munich comeback against Mainz
Jamal Musiala scored the winner as Bayern Munich came from behind to beat Mainz and move six points clear at the top of the Bundesliga.
Bayern Munich 2-1 Mainz
Goals: 0-1 Onisiwo 22' (assist: Burkardt), 1-1 Coman 53' (assist: Tolisso), 2-1 Musiala 74' (assist: Pavard)
Bayern made an ominous start as Alphonso Davies ballooned over and had a goal-bound strike deflected narrowly wide, but Mainz hadn't read the script. Karim Onisiwo had already warmed the palms of Manuel Neuer following a rapid break, when he stole a march on Corentin Tolisso to meet Jonathan Burkardt’s clipped cross and give the 05ers a deserved lead. Bayern were outfought and outthought for long periods, but did create chances to level as Thomas Müller shot over with the aid of a deflection and Alexander Hack blocked a goal-bound strike from Coman.
The warning signs didn't go away as Robert Lewandowski headed a Tolisso free-kick straight at Robin Zentner within moments of the restart. Coman followed suit from an unmarked position, when he really should have scored, before making amends with a brilliantly taken equaliser. The Frenchman showed a great first touch to control Tolisso's raking pass into the box, setting himself up for an emphatic hit through the legs of Zentner. Bayern were slowly wrestling the game away from Mainz, and were rewarded in the 74th minute when Musiala arrowed in from 18 yards to complete the turnaround.
Match stats
- Bayern will be nominal Herbstmeister (autumn champions) for the 24th time with a point from their final two Hinrunde games. The record champions have gone on to win the title on 21 occasions, when they have topped the table at the halfway stage.
- Julian Nagelsmann won a milestone 100th Bundesliga game as coach, in his 199th match overall (D59 L40).
- Bayern have scored in 62 successive Bundesliga matches, stretching back to February 2020.
- Musiala scored his ninth Bundesliga goal. The 18-year-old has made 41 top-flight appearances.
- Müller has won 291 of the 398 Bundesliga matches he has featured in. He's now level with Manfred Kaltz and into the league's all-time top three for wins.
- Lewandowski was stopped from scoring for only the fourth time in this season's Bundesliga.
Watch: Julian Nagelsmann - 'Bayern still one of the best in Europe'
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Line-ups
Bayern: Neuer (c) – Pavard, Upamecano, Hernandez (Süle 65'), Davies – Tolisso (Roca 65'), Musiala (Nianzou 82') – Coman, Müller, Sane (Gnabry 65') – Lewandowski
Unused subs: Ulreich, Richards, Cuisance, Sarr, Tillman
Out: Choupo-Moting (match fitness), Goretzka (foot), Kimmich (lungs), Sabitzer (calf), Sarr (groin), Stanisic (thigh)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
Mainz: Zentner – Bell, Hack, Niakhate (c) – Widmer, Lee (Boetius 64'), Barreiro (Tauer 82'), Stach (Stöger 82'), Martin – Burkardt (Ingvartsen 64'), Onisiwo (Nebel 75')
Unused subs: Dahmen, Brosinski, Papela, Nemeth
Out: Kohr (thigh), Lucoqui (knee), St. Juste (shoulder)
Coach: Bo Svensson
Watch: Serge Gnabry - 'A good week for Bayern!'
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