Bayern Munich 6-2 Mainz: Hosts move top of Bundesliga with emphatic win

Bayern Munich moved to the top of the Bundesliga with an emphatic win over Mainz on Saturday afternoon.

Julian Nagelsmann’s side have been steadily improving after a shaky start to the season and made easy work of their opponents today, finding themselves a goal up after just five minutes when Serge Gnabry controlled Sadio Mane’s cross and fired home.

And the hosts well and truly took control of the game after 28 minutes, with Jamal Musiala playing a neat one-two with Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and slotting the ball in to make it 2-0.

Mainz had chances of their own in the first half, and could have grabbed a lifeline when they struck the post twice in quick succession.

The away side were punished for their profligacy minutes later when Mane was upended in the Mainz penalty area. The Senegalese forward saw his spot-kick saved by Robin Zentner, but was alive to the rebound and buried it at the second attempt to put Bayern well and truly in charge before half-time.

It looked as though the game was done and dusted – but there was more drama before half-time when Bayern goalkeeper Sven Ulreich caught Jonatan Burkardt with his hand to give away a penalty at the other end. Burkardt missed the penalty, but Mainz scored moments later when Silvan Widmer headed home from Aaron Martin’s corner.

The second half began slowly, but Bayern restored their three-goal advantage shortly before the hour mark when Leon Goretzka got on the end of Mane’s cross to score his side’s fourth goal.

Bayern scored once again with ten minutes to go, 17-year-old Mathys Tel getting in on the action as Zentner was left exposed by his defenders.

There was yet more late drama as Mainz grabbed another goal back through Marcus Ingvartsen, but it was too little too late as Bayern cruised to victory, Choupo-Moting restoring their four-goal advantage late on.

Mainz tried their best and were arguably unlucky not to score more than once in the first half, but truthfully this was still a procession for Bayern as they cruised to victory with 70% of possession.

The result puts Bayern top of the Bundesliga, though that could change before the weekend is out as Union Berlin are still yet to play. They host Borussia Monchengladbach on Sunday and will be keen to return to the summit as soon as possible.