Bayern Munich, accustomed to dictating the tempo in the Bundesliga, saw their unbeaten run cave in in dramatic style as Mainz defeated the Bavarians 2-1 at the MEWA Arena in a match full of intensity, resilience, and a decisive performance by Lee Jae-Sung that truly lit the race at the top of the table.
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If the lead once seemed comfortable, the situation now looks different. The defeat cut Bayern's advantage to just four points. With 33 points, they remain at the top but now feel the pressure from Bayer Leverkusen, who climbed to 29 points after beating Augsburg. Furthermore, Eintracht Frankfurt, who face RB Leipzig on Sunday, could get even closer with 30 points.
A disciplined and clinical Mainz
The seven-match unbeaten run of Mainz was no coincidence. The team was tactically organized, withstood the pressure and used every chance that they got.
The match had started with a different plot altogether. In the 6th minute, Michael Olise hit the post to give a sign of things to come for Bayern. The Bavarians attacked but Mainz held on.
The early loss of Jonathan Burkardt, who was forced off injured, might have knocked the home team sideways. Instead, it acted as a wake-up call. Gradually, Mainz came into the game. A tight defense repelled Bayern's advances, while swift transitions started to unsettle.
Their effort finally paid off in the dying minutes of the first half as Lee Jae-Sung pounced on a loose ball in the box and scored the opener. The goal changed the dynamic of the game, and Mainz was brimming with confidence going into the second half.
Lee's efficiency
If Bayern returned from the break determined to equalize, Mainz had other plans. In the 60th minute, Lee Jae-Sung struck again. The South Korean midfielder showed composure and skill, bypassing Joshua Kimmich before finishing clinically to double Mainz's lead.
The second goal really hit Bayern's confidence hard. Vincent Kompany responded with some changes, bringing on Leon Goretzka, Sacha Boey, and Mathys Tel to inject energy and creativity. However, Mainz's defense was a wall that he could not breach.
Pressure mounted, and the game started to get more physical. Yellow cards for Dominik Kohr, Joshua Kimmich, and Phillipp Mwene showed no one was backing down.
It wasn't until the 87th minute that Leroy Sané finally broke through Mainz's defense and scored Bayern's lone goal. That late strike brought tension to the closing moments, but Mainz held firm for a historic victory.
Whether this defeat is a solitary slip-up or the start of something more worrying remains to be seen. Dominating possession and creating chances, Bayern showed defensive vulnerabilities that Lee Jae-Sung and an organized Mainz attack knew just how to exploit-space between their midfield and backline.