Advertisement

6 Bayern players score in Bundesliga rout of Mainz

The Bayern Munich team salute the fans after the end of the Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Mainz at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. Bayern won the match 6-2. (AP Photo/Alexandra Beier)

MUNICH (AP) — Bayern Munich is back on top of the Bundesliga, for a day at least, after sweeping aside Mainz 6-2 with six different scorers to continue a run of big wins.

Sadio Mané bagged one goal and set up two more as Bayern cruised to its sixth straight win in all competitions, with an impressive 25 goals scored in those games.

Bayern needed just five minutes to take the lead as Mané set up Serge Gnabry for the opening goal. Jamal Musiala added a second and Mané earned, then scored, a penalty just before the break.

Bayern's Sadio Mane, right celebrates with Bayern's Alphonso Davies after scoring a rebound from his own saved penalty his sides third goal during the Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Mainz at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Alexandra Beier)

Mainz had chances to get back into the game, with Jonathan Burkardt hitting the crossbar and seeing his poorly hit penalty tipped over the bar. Silvan Widmer headed in from the resulting corner to make it 3-1, but Mainz’s comeback stopped there.

A precise cross from Mané allowed Leon Goretzka to head in for Bayern in the 58th and 17-year-old French striker Mathys Tel added Bayern’s fifth off the bench with a deflected shot in the 80th.

Backup goalkeeper Sven Ulreich — deputizing while Manuel Neuer’s recovery from a shoulder injury drags on — gave away the ball under little pressure soon after, allowing Marcus Ingvartsen to score a consolation goal for Mainz.

The four-goal lead was restored when Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, the veteran forward who has given Bayern much-needed structure in attack recently, scored in the 86th for his sixth goal in five games, after earlier assisting on Musiala’s goal.

Bayern went to the top by two points from surprise early season leader Union Berlin, which can retake first place on Sunday if it beats Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Bayern’s focus switches to Inter Milan on Tuesday as the German champion aims to complete a perfect record of six wins from six in the Champions League group stage.

BELLINGHAM’S WINNER

Jude Bellingham scored a classy winning goal to boost his credentials for a starting spot in England’s midfield as Borussia Dortmund won at Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1.

Bellingham ran onto a pass from Youssoufa Moukoko and turned past Tuta, leaving the Frankfurt defender sprawling, before firing past goalkeeper Kevin Trapp.

Earlier, Julian Brandt opened the scoring for Dortmund before Daichi Kamada leveled soon after for Frankfurt with a powerful low shot.

Panicky Dortmund defending meant Frankfurt had chances to score plenty more, but for fine saves from goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, and the hosts were aggrieved to be refused a penalty for an apparent push by Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi. Tempers flared and almost all of the players were involved in a stoppage-time confrontation which brought three bookings but no red cards.

LEIPZIG FORTRESS

Leipzig stayed a tough team to beat at home after a 2-0 result over struggling Bayer Leverkusen.

Leipzig has won seven successive home games under coach Marco Rose since he was appointed in September following a crushing 4-1 loss at home to Shakhtar Donetsk under his predecessor Domenico Tedesco. Leipzig plays Shakhtar away on Wednesday, with the winner qualifying for the Champions League last 16.

Christopher Nkunku’s header and Timo Werner’s goal on a counterattack gave Leipzig the win. Injuries meant Leipzig started with third-choice goalkeeper Orjan Nyland but he had little to do against a Leverkusen team which dropped to 16th and has one win in six games under new coach Xabi Alonso.

Leipzig's Christopher Nkunku celebrates after his goal during the Bundesliga soccer match between RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen in Leipzig, Germany, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. (Sebastian Kahnert/dpa via AP)

FELIX NMECHA’S MOMENT

Felix Nmecha has spent most of his career in the shadow of his older brother and teammate Lukas, first at Manchester City and then at Wolfsburg, but he was the star as Wolfsburg beat relegation-threatened Bochum 4-0.

Felix Nmecha scored his first career Bundesliga goal with a header in the 27th minute then notched a second in similar style in the second half.

Wolfsburg is unbeaten in six league and cup games.

Bochum failed to build on its upset of Union Berlin last week.

Waldemar Anton scored in stoppage time from a backheeled pass by Tiago Tomas for Stuttgart to beat Augsburg 2-1.

Advertisement
Comment