Bundesliga: Strong comeback: Bayern win after being 3-0 down in Mainz

For only the second time in the club’s history, the Munich team converted a three-goal deficit at half-time into a win. They had previously achieved this feat in 1976 against VfL Bochum (6:5).

In front of 33,305 spectators, Dominik Kohr scored in the 15th minute, Paul Nebel (29th) and Sheraldo Becker (45th + 2) before the break for Mainz. Nicolas Jackson (53rd), Michael Olise (73rd), Jamal Musiala (80th) and Harry Kane (83rd) turned things around after the change.

Kompany rotates

As already indicated in advance, Bayern coach Vincent Kompany started the big rotation machine before the premier class duel at Paris Saint-Germain and changed his starting eleven to eight positions. Only Konrad Laimer, Aleksandar Pavlovic and Luiz Díaz remained from the starting line-up in the 2-0 cup win in Leverkusen last Wednesday.

Regular goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was on the bench at kick-off, as was top scorer Kane, national player Musiala and dribbling artist Olise. Defense chief Dayot Upamecano and midfielder Joshua Kimmich weren’t even in the squad for load management reasons.

Bayern initially didn’t do much well

This measure completely backfired, as the Munich B-Elf embarrassed themselves to the bone in the first half. Mainz defended well and repeatedly ventured dangerously out of cover – with success.

After a quarter of an hour, Kaishu Sano crossed from a corner into the middle, where Kohr took the lead directly. Five minutes later the home team sniffed a double chance to make it 2-0. Bayern keeper Jonas Urbig first saved against Becker and then defused Nadiem Amiri’s follow-up shot.

By now, Mainz had earned the lead against pomadic guests – and extended it after just under half an hour when the Bayern defense was once again out of the picture when the home side counterattacked quickly. Urbig was able to parry a low shot from Amiri, but Nebel was quickest when he followed up and sank the rebound into the net.

Bayern disappointed across the board and only had their first chance in the 40th minute. However, Alphonso Davies only hit the side netting. Otherwise, the cup finalists only had good ball-pushing to offer, which visibly displeased Kompany on the sidelines and the club’s grandees in the stands. And it got even worse: Shortly before the break, Becker made it 3-0 after Urbig had previously made a brilliant save to fend off a shot from Amiri.

Munich catching up

Kompany reacted to the disastrous performance and brought on Kane and Olise at the restart. The statics of the game immediately changed, and it was now almost exclusively directed towards the Mainz goal. Jackson provided new hope with his direct goal and Kompany provided even more offensive power with the substitution of Musiala after 56 minutes.

That paid off, as Olise made it through with a remarkable shot into the corner. Now all the dams broke near Mainz. The Rheinhessen could no longer find an antidote to the Munich team’s individual class and ended up empty-handed after conceding further goals from Musiala and Kane.