Bayern’s attack was blunt whilst midfield also lacked a cutting-edge
With the defense vulnerable to the counter-attack all afternoon, it didn’t help that Bayern’s attack managed to get only one shot on target throughout the entire game. Thomas Muller started as the false number nine. Although he started brightly, he became less impactful as the game wore on. With hindsight being 20/20, Mathys Tel could have been given the start, even though by his admission he has not been performing at his best this season.
As for Jamal Musiala, it was an off-night for him. The 21-year-old attacking midfielder had just 52 touches in the game despite Bayern having 69% ball possession. On the wings, Michael Olise was Rekordmeister’s best player, but it would have taken a repeat performance of the one he had earlier in the week against Shakhtar Donetsk to salvage the game for Bayern. Leroy Sané may have scored Bayern’s solitary goal, but it was an otherwise underwhelming performance from him on Saturday.
By extension, ordinary performances from the central-midfield duo of Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlovic and later on Leon Goretzka who replaced Pavlovic in the second half just compounded matters. A lack of sharpness in midfield and the attacking third indirectly made things more difficult for Bayern at the other end of the pitch.
Conclusion
The combination of the absence of key players and a packed schedule was reflected in the team’s performance in the loss at Mainz. Games such as this one can happen on the odd occasion. However, Vincent Kompany can’t afford defeat against RB Leipzig on Friday. Bayern needs to bring the curtain down on the 2024/25 Hindrunde with a win to show that the loss at Mainz was nothing more than an aberration. Should key players like Kane, Upamecano, and Davies still be unavailable on Friday then Kompany will have to make some important tweaks to team strategy and selection.