The 05ers fall to defeat against FC Bayern despite a strong performance

1. FSV Mainz 05 put up a strong fight against FC Bayern München on Saturday evening. However, the 05ers remain winless after eight games in the 2023/24 Bundesliga season after falling to a 3-1 defeat at the sold-out, noisy MEWA ARENA against a ruthlessly clinical Bayern side. Anthony Caci got FSV back into the game with his goal shortly before the end of the first half after Bayern had established a two-goal lead courtesy of their individual quality and ruthless efficiency in front of goal. FSV had the majority of the chances in the second half, but they didn’t have luck on their side, striking the woodwork twice in the second period.

Head coach Bo Svensson made one change to his starting eleven from the draw away at Borussia Mönchengladbach two weeks ago, with Dominik Kohr replacing Tom Krauß in central midfield.

Mainz get back into the game before the break

After a few quiet minutes, the expected narrative took shape. Bayern started to play the ball around, whilst the 05ers set up in a compact shape, with the visitors looking to attack in the crucial areas in and around the penalty area. The champions’ individual quality didn’t result in a goal in the opening ten minutes, but it was still evident in their attacks, as demonstrated by Joshua Kimmich’s effort at goal. After Mainz had their first sight of Sven Ulreich’s goal – Danny da Costa’s shot went just wide of the left post and Anthony Caci’s effort was blocked at the last moment, Bayern took the lead in ice-cold fashion. Leroy Sané drove forward with the ball after Bayern had regained possession and played in Kingsley Coman on the right-hand side, with the Frenchman leaving Zentner with no chance with his powerful finish. Bayern’s 1-0 lead after eleven minutes reflected the game in part, but FSV were also showing signs of bravery. Just two minutes later, the visitors were left to thank Ulreich after his magnificent save denied Mainz an equaliser, with Bayern’s keeper spectacularly managing to tip Jae-sung Lee’s header onto the post. Whilst FSV were left to rue their bad luck, the champions didn’t let up and doubled their lead in ruthlessly clinical fashion. Coman crossed towards Goretzka at the back post, who headed the ball back into a central area, leaving Harry Kane with a simple tap-in header. Despite a decent start to the game, FSV found themselves 2-0 down after 16 minutes. 

FSV lacked control in central areas in particular, with the visitors dominated this zone of the pitch with their quality and often having four or five players running at Mainz’s back line. Despite the challenge out of possession, the 05ers stabilised at the back, didn’t give up any more chances and also started to offer up an attacking threat once again. Leandro Barreiro was taken out by last-man Mathjis de Ligt, whilst Brajan Gruda and Barreiro were unable to find a breakthrough with their efforts at goal. Whilst the 05ers had to work very hard to get a sight of Bayern’s goal, the visitors were able to cut through Mainz all too easily. However, this was still Mainz’s bravest spell of the half, with Edimilson Fernandes’ effort from range flying comfortably over the bar. Mainz were rewarded shortly before the break for not giving up in spite of Bayern’s dominance. Gruda drove inwards after picking up the ball on the right-hand side and picked out Caci in the penalty area, who shifted the ball onto his left foot and struck it into the top-right corner (43’). FSV were decisively now back in the game, going into the break 2-1 down. 

More chances, no luck

The second half began with a Stefan Bell volley, saved comfortably by Ulreich, as the 05ers looked to come from behind against the record champions, just as they did back in April. Although FC Bayern continued to enjoy more possession after the break, it was the hosts who came closest to scoring. Da Costa got down the right and crossed for Bell in the middle, whose shot narrowly missed the target by a matter of inches. To make matters worse for Mainz, the Bavarians went up the other end and scored, taking advantage of a mistake again. Caci lost the ball and Musiala gave it to Goretzka, who fired a low shot past Zentner, leaving him with no chance, for 3-1 (60’).

Bayern almost got Mainz back into the game themselves later on. A free-kick from Fernandes was directed towards goal by a Bayern defender, just trickling wide in the end. There was little action in the two boxes following this, despite FSV trying their all. Substitute Karim Onisiwo cleared the bar with an acrobatic effort, then Gruda hit the post after a nice run and shot. It was the second time FSV hit the woodwork on a desperately unlucky evening. There was still time for Barreiro’s back-heel to end up in the side-netting, the final moment of a frustrating defeat for Mainz, the sixth already this season.

1. FSV MAINZ 05 - FC BAYERN MÜNCHEN – 1-3

Mainz 05: Zentner - Fernandes (76’ Richter), Bell (84’ Onisiwo), van den Berg - da Costa, Barreiro, Kohr (76’ Krauß), Caci (63’ Leitsch) - Gruda, Lee (63‘ Barkok) - Ajorque

FC Bayern: Ulreich - Laimer, Kim, de Ligt, Davies - Kimmich, Goretzka, Musiala - Sané, Kane, Coman

Goals: 0-1 Coman (11’), 0-2 Kane (16’), 1-2 Caci (43’), 1-3 Goretzka (59’)

Attendance: 33,305 (sold out)

Referee: Sascha Stegemann (Assistants: Christof Günsch & Frederick Assmuth / Fourth official: Alexander Sather /VAR: Sören Storks & Christian Fischer)