Die Folgen: Bayern’s 2-2 draw with Mainz (Bavarian Football Works)
Bayern Munich was thoroughly dominant in terms of possession, but two big defensive lapses and a myriad of missed scoring chances led to the Bavarians succumbing to a painful 2-2 draw with Mainz 05, who
entered the match in last place of the Bundesliga.
Not many saw this result coming, but it does appear that the “new coach bump” was a thing for Mainz in this game. Urs Fischer picked up his first point as head coach of Mainz and Bayern Munich was left completely stunned. Let’s get into it, here are some quick hitters on the match:
- As always, let’s begin with a look at the starting XI:
- Bayern Munich had some changes to the lineup with Hiroki Itō and Kim Min-jae taking on the center-back positions, while Tom Bischof played left-back and Leon Goretzka took position in the central midfield. Josip Stanišić started at right-back as well.
- At some point, Bischof actually needs to play in the central midfield. He is not a great left-back and while it is awesome that he wants to contribute in any way possible, these minutes at left-back will disappear in January.
- Both teams started very tentatively and maybe a little too patient — for Bayern Munich it was definitely too patient, especially as the team dominated possession.
- Right around the 20th minute mark, Bayern Munich really started to turn up the pressure. Harry Kane, Serge Gnabry, Michael Olise, and Stanišić all had good looks, but could not convert.
- Bayern Munich finally converted. A slick move from Olise, who nutmegged a defender, set up Kane, whose attempt flashed across the goalmouth to Gnabry. The winger cut the ball back to Karl, who finished for a 1-0 lead.
- Kane would later miss on a dazzling aerial attempt, but it started to feel like the Englishman was going to ramp up his own efforts to get on the scoresheet.
- Thomas Müller was in attendance, which was cool.
- For not really doing much all first half, Mainz did take advantage of Bayern Munich in added time, as William Bøving’s curling free kick found the head of 18-year-old Kacper Potulski, whose header stunned a prone Neuer. All of a sudden, Mainz had knotted the game and Bayern Munich was going to have to get back to work in the second half. The goal came after a foul from Bischof, who just lacks the experience at left-back typically needed to play the position.
- Bøving’s ball sailed over the head of Goretzka into a nice pocket of space in front of Kim Min-jae, where Potulski was waiting. That was just about the only way that Mainz was going to score.
- Mainz goalkeeper Daniel Batz was easily the team’s best player in the first half.
- In the 59th minute, Karl sent in a beautiful, curling, diagonal, cross to a cutting Gnabry, who completely butchered his attempt. That should have ended the tie game.
- In the 60th minute, Konrad Laimer, Alphonso Davies, and Aleksandar Pavlović came on. Laimer was not very sharp; nor was Davies. Basically, every sub used in the game minus Pavlović was not good.
- In the 64th minute, both Gnabry and Kane had good looks, but could not convert. Still, Bayern Munich continued to put the pressure on Mainz.
- Mainz would make Bayern Munich rue those missed chances as Jae-sung Lee’s streaking run behind Stanišić put him in range to get on the end of a ball-in from Stefan Bell. Lee’s header was insanely good and Mainz was now — somehow — in control of the match.
- Stanišić had moved inside to play center-back when Laimer entered the match, but that kind of run has plagued the defender each time he has had to play centrally for Bayern Munich. It could be a perspective thing from that position or it could just be that he gets caught watching the ball, but whatever the case, this will not give Kompany trust in Stanišić to play center-back consistently.
- It was a shame for Stanišić, who was very good at right-back, especially with his attacking play.
- Gnabry failed to get a ball into Kane in the 72nd minute, in what would have been an easy goal as his pass attempt was blocked away.
- Bayern Munich kept the pressure on Batz, who was just playing out of his mind.
- Mainz proceeded to really hunker in and get compact, which made life even more difficult for the Bavarians.
- In the 75th minute, Olise sent Nicolas Jackson in perfectly, but the Chelsea loanee’s attempted cross was hit with far too much pace for anyone to get a foot on. Karl was charging hard into the box, and with a better pass, the youngster would have had a brace.
- Laimer picked up his 5th yellow card of the season, which will put him out against Heidenheim.
- The game quickly went from, “How quickly can Bayern Munich score two goals and take the lead?” to “Can they even tie the match?”
- In the 84th minute, Kane was hauled down in the box and given a penalty. Yes, Kane went down very easily, but Potulski did have a hold of his jersey. Kane, of course, nailed the PK to make it 2-2. Mainz was incredibly miffed.
- Other than the penalty, Potulski was terrific.
- Maybe sensing that a couple of his misplays would affect the outcome, Gnabry rifled a shot into the 30th row in the 88th minute as he just tried way too hard to score at a time where he should have worked harder to help the team get a better look.
- Bayern Munich finished the game with 85% possession….85%! Give Mainz credit, the team spent most of the game on its heels, but the players worked their collective ass off.
- Overall, the story of the match was Bayern Munich’s inefficiency with its chances. On another day, Bayern Munich could have scored six or seven goals, but Batz was terrific and the Bavarians were just not on-point with their finishing. Honestly, this author does not have too much of a problem with the way Bayern Munich played. It was not a great game by any means, but rolling out a tired Kimmich (who was good, but needs a break) and a slew of ineffective subs kind of wrote the story. To be very clear — Kimmich was not the problem, but we will not see the best of Kimmich until he starts taking a break once in a while. Over the course of a season, you have games like this and like at Union Berlin. This one did not have anything to do with a lack of fire or focus like we saw at Union, but a team that did not take advantage of its chances, while making two too many defensive mistakes. It happens…unfortunately, though, it happened against the last-placed team in the league.
If you missed our Initial Analysis, Match Awards, Observations, or Postgame Podcast, give them a look or a listen:
PSG to make massive offer for Olise? (The Hard Tackle)
Paris Saint-Germain could be plotting to make a giant offer for Bayern Munich star winger Michael Olise:
PSG would be willing to table a mammoth €150 million bid to sign Michael Olise from Bayern Munich, with the Parisians eager to bring the Frenchman to their attack. According to Fichajes, Michael Olise is emerging as a massive target for PSG ahead of the future windows. Bayern Munich are not looking to sell their star winger at the moment, although should the Parisians table an offer approaching €150 million, a deal could be in the pipeline.
Despite the fact that Bayern Munich may not feel the need to sell the winger, the pressure due to the massive interest from elsewhere might make the club think about the prospect of losing Olise. The report states that the Bavarians might reportedly consider a sale if they receive offers approaching the €150 million mark.
PSG are part of the equation for Olise, and are reportedly thinking about tabling a €150 million offer to test Bayern Munich’s resolve. The Parisians are dreaming of adding the Bayern Munich star to their high-octane attacking roster, as his ability to play across the frontline is a big plus point for the French giants.
It seems very unlikely that Bayern Munich would be willing to part ways with Olise any time soon, but if any club can up the ante with an offer, it is the deep-pockets fellas from PSG.
Diomande getting a lot of attention (Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg)
RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande is drawing interest from Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, and Manchester City (plus apparently more):
🚨👀 Top clubs from England all have Yan #Diomande in their sights: Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester City and many more. #LFC
Contrary to other reports, there are no concrete or advanced talks with any club.
Contract until 2030 with no release clause. A move after the World Cup is possible. Leipzig are considering a fee of over €100 million. Incredible talent.
If he can stay healthy and productive, Diomande figures to be one of RB Leipzig’s next big sales.
Real to make move for Dalot? (ESPN)
Real Madrid could be preparing to make an offer for Manchester United star Diogo Dalot:
Real Madrid are interested in a deal for Manchester United fullback Diogo Dalot, 26, according to TEAMtalk. United’s director of football Jason Wilcox is considering letting the Portugal international leave as he has a contract that runs until 2028, which includes the option for another year. Madrid signed Trent Alexander-Arnold in the summer, but Dani Carvajal’s age (33) and Dalot’s versatility are factors in them looking to improve their options. Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich are also interested.
Plettenberg crushes Bayern transfer rumors (Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg)
Per Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Bayern Munich is not actually pursuing some of the youngsters it has been linked to:
🚨🛑 Rumours linking FC Bayern with Julien Duranville, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Kobbie Mainoo and Carlos #Baleba are wide of the mark!
Dario Osorio is currently not a concrete topic either.
Talented players, but Bayern are currently planning other transfers.
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
