05ers topple Bayern thanks to Lee brace

1. FSV Mainz 05 claimed victory their final home game of 2024 and in some style, defeating an FC Bayern München side who had been unbeaten in the league up until this point. Jae-sung Lee’s brace saw the 05ers take all three points in an entertaining, jam-packed affair. Leroy Sané’s goal back for the visitors ultimately came too late. The hosts played just as well as the record champions for large periods and were efficient when they did get chances. Mainz sit sixth in the table after 14 matchdays, with 22 points to their name.

Entertaining first half sees Mainz lead at the break

Bo Henriksen was forced into changing his back line due to Danny da Costa’s injury, with Moritz Jenz coming into the starting line-up. The remainder of the XI that began the Wolfsburg match stayed the same. The opening minutes were characterised by numerous tackles flying in before Bayern and namely Michael Olise had the first chance. The shot hit the left-hand post, however (6’). The team from Munich controlled the early stages, knocking the ball from side-to-side, but Mainz remained compact and concentrated in their defensive efforts. A loss of possession from the record champions then led to the hosts’ first opportunity. Jonny Burkardt received the ball from Jae-sung Lee before outpacing Min-jae Kim and Eric Dier. His subsequent strike only just missed the far corner (13’). Burkardt pulled up injured after unleashing his effort, though, forcing Mainz into an early change with Armindo Sieb coming on (15’). FSV then turned up the heat, having more possession and that further up the pitch; however, no attempts on goal bore fruit.

Mainz had been awarded three corners to Bayern’s zero after nearly half an hour. The third of those led to a great chance for Anthony Caci when Bayern’s initial clearance fell right at his feet. He was unable to do anything more than put his effort right down the throat of Daniel Peretz in the visitors’ goal, though (29’). The game evened out somewhat in the final quarter of an hour before the break, with attacks from both sides breaking down due to inaccuracy in the final third and focused defensive performances, meaning that neither were able to pose any real goalscoring threat. Shortly before the end of the 45, the visitors had several corners, one of which led to a counter-attacking opportunity for the home side. Caci’s cross reached Sieb, who headed the ball back into the centre of the penalty area where Lee was on hand to steer the ball past Peretz first-time to hand Mainz the lead (41’). The shots on target statistic read 5-4 in favour of the away side by the time the whistle sounded, meaning the fans in the MEWA ARENA had been treated to an entertaining opening period with chances for both outfits. Ultimately, FSV profited from one of theirs to take a deserved 1-0 lead into the locker room.

Lee scores again before passionate defending ensures victory

Both teams emerged unchanged for the second period and the state of play took on a similar look as well with the two teams able to put a stop to their opponent’s attacks early on, but unable to benefit from the resulting turnover of possession. With about an hour gone, Mainz began a forward drive from their own half, with Caci finding Sieb who in turn fed the ball to Lee in the middle of the box. The attacker received the ball with impressive control before firing in on the spin for a 2-0 lead (60’). The 05ers refused to let up though, and pushed on, retaining their goal threat. Bayern did then turn the match back in their favour with 20 minutes to play, a period that occurred almost exclusively in the home side’s half of the pitch. Nevertheless, the record champions were unable to muster up any real chances to score.

Karim Onisiwo replaced Armindo Sieb in the 75th minute, full of gusto and with the intention of ensuring the three points stayed in Mainz. The visitors from Munich undoubtedly had the better of the final 10 minutes as they sought a goal back. Eventually, that did arrive in the 87th minute when Konrad Laimer had too much room and was able to pick out Joshua Kimmich who in turn fed Leroy Sané. His powerful hit meant just a singular goal now separated the sides once again. That made the final minutes at the MEWA ARENA a tense affair as Bayern pressed on for the equaliser. Mainz’s passionate defending prevented that from happening, though. The hosts emerged with a 2-1 victory that saw Bayern fall to a first loss of the current Bundesliga campaign.