Mainz 3-1 Bayern Munich: Hosts stun Thomas Tuchel's side in huge shock in Bundesliga title race
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Updated 22/04/2023 at 17:12 GMT+1
When Thomas Tuchel's Bayern Munich side arrived to take on Mainz in their Bundesliga encounter on Saturday, no one surely expected that the hosts would claim a point, let alone all three. That was all the more so the case when Bayern took the lead through Sadio Mane, but then Mainz roared back in hugely impressive fashion to rack up three goals and claim a memorable triumph.
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Mainz pulled off an incredible comeback to beat Bayern Munich 3-1 and blow the Bundesliga title race wide open.
The match started in a very open fashion, with both teams making mistakes in possession and countering the other.
Bayern thought they had taken the lead after 15 minutes when Sadio Mane made a superb run before expertly clipping the ball over Robin Zentner, but it was flagged for offside and after a VAR check, the decision to disallow the goal stood.
Thomas Tuchel's men didn't have to wait too much longer for a goal though. Mane was on hand just 15 minutes later to head home Joao Cancelo's deep cross to the back post, and this time the goal stood.
Bayern continued to push for a second goal but were unable to create clear-cut opportunities to increase their lead.
Mainz equalised in the 65th minute when Ludovic Ajorque was on hand to head home a rebounded effort and score in his fourth consecutive Bundesliga match. It was also his sixth goal from his last eight matches.
And just eight minutes later, Bo Svensson's side had the lead. Karim Onisiwo played a great pass into Leandro Barreiro, who calmly fired his effort into the bottom corner. The Mainz supporters were in dreamland but their joy wouldn't stop there as their team made it 3-1 ten minutes from time.
Substitute Aaron Martin rifled an effort into the bottom corner from just inside the penalty area to give Yann Sommer no chance. It was a finish befitting of a top-class striker - not a left-back - and put the icing on the cake for Mainz and their spectacular comeback.
TALKING POINT - BLOWING THE TITLE RACE WIDE OPEN
Bayern Munich's 4-2 win over Borussia Dortmund in Thomas Tuchel's first match in charge looked to be perhaps a defining match in the fight for the Bundesliga crown but this title race is by no means over.
Since Bayern's victory over Dortmund, they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Hoffenheim and now they have lost 3-1 on the road to Mainz. Bayern's form in all competitions also signals that something isn't quite right in Bavaria.
They have just one win in their last six in all competitions, including being dumped out of both the DFB Pokal and the UEFA Champions League. They have a two point lead over Dortmund at the top of the league having played a game more and if Dortmund can pick up all three points against Eintracht Frankfurt later on today, they will go one point clear of Bayern heading into the last five matches.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH - LEANDRO BARREIRO (FSV MAINZ)
The 23-year-old did not stop running all afternoon for his side and his hard work epitomised Mainz's efforts. He won nine of his duels, made seven tackles, two interceptions and two clearances. He was always in the right place to disposses a Bayern player and progress the ball up the pitch for his side. The icing on the cake for Barreiro is that it was his goal which fired Mainz into a 2-1 lead.
PLAYER RATINGS
FSV Mainz: Zentner 7, Hanche-Olsen 6, Bell 7, Edmilson 6, Widmer 7, Barreiro 9, Kohr 7, Caci 6, Jae-Sung Lee 7, Onisiwo 6, Ajorque 8. Subs: Martin 7, Stach 6, Barkok 6, Ingvartsen 6, Hack 6
Bayern Munich: Sommer 5, de Ligt 6, Upamecano 6, Stanisic 6, Kimmich 7, Musiala 6, Goretzka 6, Cancelo 7, Davies N/A, Mane 7, Muller 6. Subs: Mazraoui 7, Gravenberch 6, Tel 5, Sane 6, Gnabry 6
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
15' GOAL BUT THE FLAG IS UP! - Sadio Mane makes the run in behind before clipping it over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net, but there will be a VAR check for offside. No goal.
29' GOAL - BAYERN MUNICH - Joao Cancelo clips in a brilliant cross to the back post and Sadio Mane is there to head home!
65' GOAL - MAINZ - It's Ajorque again! He has now scored in four consecutive Bundesliga matches! Lee sees his effort saved by Sommer and Ajorque is there to head home!
73' GOAL - MAINZ - The hosts have scored again! They've gone from 1-0 down to 2-1 up in the space of seven minutes! The ball comes to Leandro Barreiro in the box who places it in the bottom corner.
79' GOAL - MAINZ - Aaron Martin has surely won it for Mainz! Unbelievable! The ball comes to the Spaniard on the left-hand side just inside the box and he rifles an outstanding effort into the bottom corner!
KEY STAT
Julian Nagelsmann lost three matches from 37 in 2022/23, Thomas Tuchel has lost three matches in seven games.
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