Bayern Munich 6-1 Mainz 05
When Jean-Paul Boetius headed past Manuel Neuer after just six minutes in the Allianz Arena, there may have been a few murmurs in Bavaria.
Forty minutes later and a sense of normality had been restored as the German champions were on their way to a second Bundesliga victory of the season.
A further hour later and not only had Bayern Munich produced some Bundesliga 2019 highlights to savour, but they had also hit poor Mainz for six.
Highlights of the game
The omens, nor the SBOBET Bundesliga 2019 betting odds, didn’t look good for Mainz from the outset.
Not only had they lost all three of their competitive outings so far this season, but they had also conceded eight goals, including three in the final 10 minutes of their 3-0 defeat to Freiburg and two in 60 seconds against Borussia Mönchengladbach.
So when Boetius got to the ball before Benjamin Pavard to head home a perfectly flighted Ronael Pierre-Gabriel cross, there were shockwaves.
Yes, this was a Bayern team which started with a hiccup against a spirited Hertha Berlin.
But they had bounced back in style in their second match against Schalke when observers were given a reminder of the talents of Robert Lewandowski in the week he extended his contract with the German champions.
Their frustrations were apparent judging by the frontman’s body language and a booking for Joshua Kimmich. But the drinks break midway through the half – on a hot day in Munich – seemed to help Niko Kovac’s side find their groove.
With Barcelona loanee Philippe Coutinho making his full Bundesliga debut (Thomas Müller was the man to make way) and Ivan Perisic starting his first game for the club, there was too much talent for Mainz to hold out for 90 minutes.
Their arrival has lifted the club as any new marquee signing does. Perisic played a key part in the equaliser nine minutes before the break as his back-post cross was struck home sweetly by Pavard.
Then, on the stroke of half-time, the blow which ultimately quashed the spirit of the visitors came.
They had contributed greatly to the opening 45 minutes but found themselves behind at the break as David Alaba hit a quite brilliant free-kick into the top corner.
If that moment of class gave the hosts the lead, their next goal nine minutes after the break finished the match as a contest.
Perisic powerfully headed a Pavard cross towards the near post and, despite the best efforts of Mainz keeper Florian Muller, the ball bounced off the crossbar and over the line.
After a goal-line clearance denied Lewandowski, Kingsley Coman got into the act with a sweet left-foot drive. And after substitute Pierre Kunde twice went close for Mainz, Lewy did get his customary goal as he slotted home with the aid of a slight deflection.
It was left to substitute Alphonso Davies to have the final say against tired and dispirited opponents as he added the sixth, rolling the ball into an empty net from a pass from fellow substitute Thomas Muller.
That completed the rout and has left Mainz firmly rooted to the bottom in the early table.
They didn’t deserve to lose so emphatically, yet this was another show of strength from a side who will remain the team to beat in the next nine months.
Key statistics
Alaba has now scored seven direct free-kick goals in the German top flight — no current player has scored more (Marvin Plattenhardt also 7).
This was Perisic’s first Bundesliga goal since August 2015, when he scored for Wolfsburg against Frankfurt.
Lewandowski has scored six of Bayern’s11 Bundesliga goals so far this season. He also has scored 15 times in 15 games against Mainz.
Both of Davies’ Bundesliga goals have come against Mainz.
This was only Boetius’ fifth Bundesliga goal but his second against Bayern; he also scored in Mainz’s 2-1 home defeat in October 2018.
Mainz fielded the youngest starting XI in the Bundesliga this season with an average age of 23.8 years compared to Bayern’s 27.0.
Bayern have won each of their last five matches against Mainz, scoring 20 goals in total and conceding just twice.
The last time Bayern had six different scorers in a Bundesliga game was in September 1998 (6-1 vs Rostock). They’ve never had more.
Only Borussia Dortmund and Monchengladbach (both three) have won more Bundesliga games at the Allianz Arena against Bayern than Mainz (two).
What’s next?
Following the international break, Bayern make the tricky trip to RB Leipzig next (September 14) with Mainz hosting Hertha Berlin.
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