Bundesliga 2024-25: Mainz shocks Bayern Munich 2-1 to end unbeaten streak; Leverkusen climbs into second spot after win against Augsburg
Mainz 05’s Lee Jae-sung scored either side of the break as the host stunned Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich 2-1 on Saturday to snap its unbeaten league run this season.
South Korea international Lee struck four minutes before the break after pouncing on a defensive blunder by the lacklustre visitors.
The 32-year-old then doubled the hosts’ lead on the hour, turning beautifully in the box to finish a superb attacking move that left the complete Bayern defence frozen to the spot.
It was also the first league loss for Bayern coach Vincent Kompany, who last week became only the third coach in Bundesliga history to have gone without defeat in his first 13 league games in charge.
The Bavarians, who pulled back a goal with Leroy Sane in the 87th, remain in top spot on 33 points, four ahead of Bayer Leverkusen, 2-0 winners at Augsburg.
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Bayern, missing eight players to injury including top scorer Harry Kane, got off to a strong start, hitting the woodwork with Michael Olise in the sixth minute.
Mainz was dealt a major blow when Jonathan Burkardt, who had scored in its previous four league games, was taken off injured after he fired wide following a powerful sprint in the 14th minute.
But it was the host who was more threatening, with Anthony Caci missing its best chance when his point-blank shot was blocked by Bayern keeper Daniel Peretz.
Lee did better four minutes before the break, slotting in from a cross that first slipped past Bayern’s Kim Min-jae and Olise.
He then struck again with the first chance in the second half, turning well in the box to drill in after a quick six-pass move by Mainz.
Kompany’s team never showed any desire for a comeback even after Sane’s late goal, with Mainz comfortably holding on to its lead.
Champions Leverkusen cruises past Augsburg to climb into second spot
German champions Bayer Leverkusen struck twice in the first half to ease past hosts Augsburg 2-0 on Saturday and climb to second place in the Bundesliga with its fourth straight league win.
Buoyed up by its midweek 1-0 win over Inter Milan in the Champions League, Leverkusen, who has now won its last seven games across all competitions, went in front when Martin Terrier stabbed home in the 14th minute.
Leverkusen briefly took its foot off the gas, giving the hosts more space but Florian Wirtz’s low drive in the 40th minute doubled its lead.
“I am very satisfied with the game and especially with the way we played,” said Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso. “We were very solid, had good control and that is not easy. That’s the way we want to play in away matches.”
Leverkusen has now gone 24 consecutive away matches in the Bundesliga without defeat, with only Bayern Munich having set a longer run.
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“This win is good for us. The next match, that is our only focus. The table in December is not something that is so important. More important is the way we played. For anything else it is still too early,” Alonso said.
Leverkusen is on 29 points in second place, four behind leaders Bayern who slumped to a 2-1 defeat at Mainz 05 for its first league loss of the season.
