MAINZ, Germany – Bayern Munich experienced its first loss in the Bundesliga under coach Vincent Kompany, suffering a 2-1 defeat against Mainz on Saturday. The team struggled with defensive errors and the absence of star striker Harry Kane, who was sidelined due to injury.
In other matches, Union Berlin and Bochum ended their encounter in a 1-1 draw, but the final moments were devoid of action after Bochum’s goalkeeper was hit by an object thrown from the crowd.
Without Kane’s attacking prowess, Bayern found it challenging to create goal-scoring opportunities. Mainz initially surged ahead with a two-goal advantage, courtesy of Lee Jae-sung. Although Leroy Sane managed to score a rebound in the 87th minute, providing a glimmer of hope for Bayern, they ultimately could not secure an equalizer.
Kompany reflected on the match, stating, “We faced a team that brought a lot of energy and determination, and they were willing to fight for every moment. I believe we fought too; however, we’ve performed better in previous matches.”
Following this loss, Bayern’s lead at the top of the table has been trimmed to four points ahead of last season’s champions, Bayer Leverkusen. Previously, despite setbacks in the Champions League against teams like Aston Villa and Barcelona, as well as a German Cup exit at the hands of Leverkusen last week, Bayern was still on track to reclaim the Bundesliga title they had lost last season.
The defensive lapses were crucial, particularly in both goals conceded. The first goal resulted from Kim Min-jae failing to intercept a cross, allowing Michael Olise to mishandle the ball, which led to Armindo Sieb setting up Lee for a score. The second goal again featured a pass from Sieb to Lee, who turned Joshua Kimmich and scored low past backup goalkeeper Daniel Peretz. Interestingly, Sieb was only on the pitch because Jonathan Burkardt had to leave due to injury early in the match.
Mainz coach Bo Henriksen celebrated the hard-fought victory, especially after his team endured an 8-1 defeat against Bayern last season.
In the Union Berlin vs. Bochum match, the game came to a halt when Bochum goalkeeper Patrick Drewes was struck by an object, reportedly a cigarette lighter, from the stands. Following a delay of almost half an hour for treatment, the teams opted to play out the remaining time, which lasted approximately three minutes. Bochum, currently sitting at the bottom of the table, has expressed intentions to challenge the referee’s decision to continue the game.
Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen secured a 2-0 victory against Augsburg, marking their seventh consecutive win across all competitions after a slow start to the season. Martin Terrier was pivotal in this match, scoring his first goal since September, and Florian Wirtz added a second goal just before halftime with a well-placed shot that went through a defender’s legs.
Another match was interrupted due to smoke from pyrotechnics set off by fans, but it resumed with Werder Bremen securing a 2-0 win against St. Pauli, which elevated them to seventh place in the standings. Borussia Moenchengladbach also enjoyed a solid performance, defeating Holstein Kiel 4-1.
