Jae-Sung Lee scored twice against FC Bayern.
IMAGO/Jan Hübner

Bo Henriksen’s record against FC Bayern was disastrous before the third duel. Before the last home game in 2024, the statistics showed a terrible 1:8 in the previous season and a 0:4 in the cup at the end of October. And 45 days later, the Munich team, who had Dier and Pavlovic starting instead of Upamecano and Goretzka compared to the 5-1 win against Shakhtar Donetsk, quickly had two good opportunities: Olise only failed to hit the post (6th) and headed over shortly afterwards the box (12.).

Burkardt warps and has to go out

But the Mainz team also presented themselves bravely and the home team had a very good opportunity early on, but it ended very badly. Burkardt withdrew after a long sprint (13th) and was also injured. The party was over for the FSV captain in the 15th minute with muscular problems on his left back thigh.

Even without the most accurate attacker, the Zero Fives, in which Jenz replaced the injured da Costa after the wild 3:4 in Wolfsburg, kept the game balanced, also because they offered almost nothing defensively.

Lee is correct

And the home side became more and more courageous in the final third. Caci initially lacked the necessary precision in the end (29th). Shortly before the break, the rail player took measurements again, but for a cross. This slid across Kim’s forehead, and Olise, who was positioned just behind, couldn’t clear it up. Sieb’s unfortunate and deflected shot landed in the middle of Lee, who put the ball from the air past Peretz into the goal (41′).

After Olise’s chances early on, there was little that was compelling from Bayern on offense as the first half progressed.

Lee raised

After the break, the Munich team appeared to be present in the Mainz half, but still lacked penetration and inspiration.

And the zero fives? They had a strong trio on the pitch that worked well together, as they did in the 1-0 win: Caci passed for Sieb, who found Lee with his cross. This time too, the attacker remained ice-cold and scored from the turn to make it 2-0 (60th).

Instead of a direct reaction from Bayern, further Mainz shots followed from Amiri (65th) and Sieb (68th).

Sané only creates tension for a short time

In the final phase, the Zero Fives retreated further and further, but continued to hold their ground. Only Sané, who scored after a deflected Kimmich pass (87th), caused tension again – but only for a short time, because overall the record champions remained too harmless and ultimately had to register their first defeat of the season.

At the end of the year, the Rheinhessen will be guests in Frankfurt next Saturday (3:30 p.m.), FC Bayern will host Leipzig on Friday (8:30 p.m.).