Half-time sub Mario Götze provided the spark as Bayern showed huge character in a vastly-improved second-half display on Saturday, coming from behind for the first time this term to beat feisty Mainz and go back to the top of the Bundesliga. The Reds also extended their unbeaten league run to 34 games and posted a morale-boosting success prior to Wednesday’s Champions League meeting with Viktoria Plzen.
Guardiola warned beforehand it would be a very tough match, and the customary 71,000 capacity crowd at the Allianz Arena duly saw the least fluent half of football this season from the men in red, who lacked the precision to unpick the disciplined visiting defence. Worse still, Shawn Parker capitalised on a rare defensive error to hand Thomas Tuchel’s side the lead a minute before the break.
Whatever Guardiola said at half-time had the desired effect, as sub Mario Götze provided a sweet 50th-minute assist for Arjen Robben to equalise, before Thomas Müller turned the game on its head less than two minutes later. Mario Mandzukic made it safe with Bayern’s third goal 20 minutes from the end, with Müller adding a fourth from the spot in the 82nd minute.
In the standings, Bayer Leverkusen controversially took first place overnight, but Saturday’s win means Bayern return to the top of the table on 23 points from nine games, one ahead of Dortmund and Bayer. The Bavarians now entertain Czech contenders Viktoria in midweek, before tackling the third home game in a week next Saturday when Hertha Berlin visit Munich.
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