15.30 Kickoffs: Bayern move top with win over Mainz, Felix Nmecha brace leads Wolfsburg past Bochum
FC Bayern München are back at the top of the league for the first time in 54 days after besting Mainz in an eight-goal shootout.
There was plenty of intriguing action in the rest of the matchday 12 15:30 kickoffs, with Wolfsburg, Leipzig, and Stuttgart emerging as winners.
Two teams in red-hot form squared off at the Allianz Arena on Saturday afternoon. Bo Svennson's FSV Mainz 05 headed to Bavaria on a three-game winning-streak whilst Julian Nagelsmann's mighty FCB entered the contest having won their last five on-the-spin. A thrilling eight-goal contest ensued. Bayern ultimately prevailed with a deserved victory and are, at least until tomorrow, at the top of the Bundesliga table.
There was plenty of intriguing action in the rest of the matchday 12 15:30 kickoffs, with Wolfsburg, Leipzig, and Stuttgart emerging as winners.
FCB trainer Nagelsmann saw no need to make any changes to the XI that bested Barcelona 3-0 in the Champions' League on Wednesday. FSV gaffer Svensson, on the other hand, made an interesting pick in opting for lead striker Jonathan Burkardt over the recently prolific goal machine Marcus Ingvartsen. Two other changes to the XI that routed Köln 5-0 last week were enforced. Captain Silvan Widmer returned to take over for the ill Danny da Costa. Leandro Barreiro also had to step in for the Dominik Kohr, who was struggling with a stomach bug.
The Bavarian hosts certainly began the game on the front foot and pulled ahead after just five minutes. An advantage play saw Serge Gnabry burst through central and lay off to a onrushing Sadio Mané on the left. Mané took some intelligent touches on the ball before returning for Gnabry in space in front of the net. The German national team attacker himself took a sharp touch and finished cooly. Mainz mostly sat deep in response to this development, but were able to push forward with Burkardt and Karim Onisiwo on occasion.
Mainz racked up some pinpricks, but ultimately conceded the second gaol just shy of the half-hour-mark. Gnabry again played the catalytic initiator with a nice pick out of Alphonso Davies in space. The Canadian fullback played through to Jamal Musiala who, after a nice one-two with Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, supplied one of his finest finishes of his already sparking season. The German phenol held his own against three Mainz markers and slotted home into the left corner from just inside the 18.
There was almost an immediate response to Bayern's 2-0 in the 28th. Burkhardt banged a ball off the crossbar in the 32nd. Jae-Sung Lee got a toe around the rebound, only managing to hit the post with his strike. Svensson's men were gaining in confidence and fighting hard as the half drew to a close. Unfortunately, Alexander Hack took out Mané near the touchline in the penalty area in the 41st. Referee Benjamin Cortus awarded a penalty after a lengthy VAR check that also verified that Mané was onside.
FSV keeper Robin Zentner actually saved Mané's 43rd minute effort from the spot. The Senegalese international was nevertheless able to turn the rebound in for the 3-0. On a controversial play a few minutes later, Mainz were awarded their own penalty when FCB keeper Sven Ulreich was judged to have swiped Burkardt's face in the box at 45+2. Burkhardt couldn't convert from the spot in the at 45+3. The Rheinhessen were, amazingly, still able to pull a goal back before the half when Widmer headed home off the ensuing corner.
Svensson's Nullfünfter began the second half with a full head of steam. The best chance after the restart would end up falling to Bayern. Choupo-Moting hit the post in the 54th. Four minutes after that, Germany's record champions would have their fourth goal. Some nice set-up play from Mané and Noussair Mazraoui concluded with Leon Goretzka smashing home a Mané cross with his head for a 4-1 lead in the 58th. To their credit, the Pfälzer guests did try to mount a response.
Try as they might, Svensson's crew could only manage mildly promising pinpricks. Bayern had the game under control. Zentner had to deflect a Musiala effort off the crossbar in the 63rd. FCB substitute Mathys Tel, set-up neatly by fellow sub Marcel Sabitzer in the 79th, finally added the 5-1 in the 79th. Working off the bench, Ingvartsen pulled back a goal for the guests in the 82nd. Not to be outdone by a player who scored in five consecutive matches, Choupo added his sixth tally in five games in the 86th.
Elsewhere in the Bundesliga's 15:30 kickoffs, VfL Wolfsburg are also marching up the table after securing their third league win of the season. Niko Kovac's Wölfe took care of VfL Bochum 4-0 at home in a game that featured a Felix Nmecha brace. Ridle Baku and Jonas Wind also scored for Germany's green company team inn the victory that brings them up to 12th place in the table.
RB Leipzig's streaking form also continues. Marco Rose's German Red Bulls followed up their stunning upset over Real Madrid on Tuesday with a 2-0 win over Leverkusen at the Red Bull Arena. Timo Werner netted again with the decisive goal seven minutes from time. Rose's RB move up to fifth place.
Over at the Mercedes Benz Arena in Stuttgart, Michael Wimmer's VfB were able to bounce back from their debilitating defeat against Dortmund last week. A game that seemed destined to end in a 1-1 draw instead turned into three points for the Swabians when Waldemar Anton scored a late goal. The crucial win enabled the Württembergers to climb out of the relegation zone.