Bayern Munich back on track after an emphatic team win over Mainz

Bayern Munich expertly respond to their critics with an emphatic 4-0 victory at home over Mainz.

6th place against 13th is a fixture in which you would not assume Bayern Munich would feature. Alas, recent performances from Bayern — as well as it still being early in the season — meant that this fixture did feature Bayern. Having struggled to score from open play in recent weeks, being pitted against a Mainz team playing five-at-the-back could have meant that this game would be a stalemate for 90 minutes. Luckily, that did not happen.

Mainz kicked off but quickly relinquished possession for what seemed like the first five minutes. Save for one or two tackles, Bayern controlled the first several minutes but did not do much with the ball. Thiago and Rafinha both misplaced passes which lead to Mainz chances. Thankfully though, their attacks turned out to be fairly tame.

Bayern Munich took the lead after 11 minutes with a goal from Thomas Müller. After several good passes from one side of the box to the other Joshua Kimmich found Thomas Müller — naturally in open space. The Bavarian put the ball in the back of the net, by way of Arjen Robben’s thigh. Although officially given to Müller, the deflection off or Robben certainly helped send René Adler the wrong way.

If there was one thing that this match highlighted when compared to the game against Anderlecht and Hoffenheim, it is how crucial having a player like Arturo Vidal in your starting line-up is. Playing as the most quintessential box-to-box midfielder, he was everywhere today. Had Kimmich not collected three assists, Arturo Vidal would have been the strongest candidate for man of the match.

Kingsley Coman also showcased what he can do given the right time to develop. After several step-overs and blasting past Leon Balogun of Mainz, Coman put the ball across to Lewandowski whose backheeled pass to Robben lead to two fantastic saves from René Adler. If it wasn’t for Adler and the Mainz woodwork, this match could have been 5-0 within the first thirty minutes.

The match was shaping up to be the stalemate I was expecting, 1-0 for the remaining 70 minutes with no chances getting through. After Thiago intercepted a Mainz attack, Coman missed a sure-fire opportunity to double the lead by hitting the woodwork. More agony, no luck.

It was Arjen Robben, however, who eventually doubled Bayern’s lead with his right foot. 23 minutes in and the Bayern that we all know and love were starting to return. His celebration took him to the corner flag the furthest away from the Bayern dugout, Robben broke free from the huddle to run across the pitch in order to celebrate with Franck Ribery, pointing to his right leg in disbelief. An heartwarming embrace that will be loved by Bayern fans of all ages.

The remainder of the first half was a mixed bag, it coming to a close with yet another great effort from Kingsley Coman. Leaving another Mainz defender in the dust, his pass struggled to reach Lewandowski as the referee blew his whistle.

After 50 minutes Kimmich yet again came into play. Providing a wonderful pass for Müller to run onto, the raumdeuter played a perfectly weighted cross for Lewandowski. The Pole fired in from close range, putting his team up 3-0.

After several lackluster performances and many fans’ opinion of him turning after comments made to the press, Lewandowski appeared to be more involved with the team all of the pitch. Less bickering about passes not being made and more mobility across the field, this was the Robert Lewandowski that Bayern need every game. Whether it is against Mainz, Anderlecht, PSG or the Paulaner Traumelf, he needs to be on form. And this match showed what he can do.

In his first start for Bayern since last year, Jerome Boateng put in a very strong display, looking as if he hasn’t missed a day. That being said, with fatigue settling in, he came off for Niklas Süle after 62 minutes with fatigue setting in. Similarly, Robben made way for Ribery.

Shortly before coming off for Sebastian Rudy, Arturo Vidal hit the bar yet again with a header from a perfectly placed cross yet again from Joshua Kimmich.

On 77 minutes, Kimmich once more sent the ball over the crowd and it was headed home by Robert Lewandowski for 4-0 — the final score of a match that could easily have been in double digits had it not been for Adler’s performance and the performance of the cross bar.

Next: Bayern Munich and the Robert Lewandowski dilemma

Regardless of scores, this match was always going to be played in lieu of recent fixtures. After a very un-telling 3-0 victory against Anderlecht midweek and a 2-0 defeat to Hoffenheim last Saturday, this match needed to show the players, the other clubs in the Bundesliga, the fans and the folks in charge at Bayern that they are not a team in crisis.The team as a whole played very well, Ancelotti’s substitutions were logical and above all else, everyone seemed happy. A 4-0 win against Mainz was an adequate response to the criticism.