Where it went wrong for Bayern Munich in disappointing 2-1 loss at Mainz | OneFootball

On matchday 14 of the ongoing 2024/25 Bundesliga season, Bayern Munich, without several key players, traveled to the Mewa Arena to take on mid-table side Mainz. Having comprehensively beaten Mainz 4-0 at that same venue roughly six weeks ago in the second round of the DFB-Pokal, Bayern fans expected another victory. Instead, what they got on Saturday afternoon was Bayern’s worst performance of the season to date.

Following the loss, Die Roten’s lead at the top of the table shrunk to four points as Leverkusen climbed to second place (29 points) with a 2-0 away victory over Augsburg on Saturday. Let us look at key factors contributing to Bayern’s poor showing at Mainz.

Absence of key players

No excuses for Bayern’s stinker on the weekend. However, Kompany's hands were tied in this game due to a long list of absentees. Harry Kane, Serge Gnabry, and Kingsley Coman were sorely missed in the attack. Die Roten were also without Dayot Upamecano, Manuel Neuer, and Alphonso Davies in defense.

Unfamiliarity and unsuitability of the combination of players in the defensive third of the pitch was evident early on as Mainz were effective on the counter-attack by forcing mistakes from Bayern, both in midfield and defense despite having very little possession.

The harshest of critics may be inclined to point fingers at Kompany for his lineup and strategy. However, in terms of the back four, with Alphonso Davies injured and Dayot Upamecano, on four yellow cards, being given a rest, with one eye on Friday’s clash with Leipzig, Raphael Guerreiro at left-back and Eric Dier at center-back were the obvious choices with Hiroki Ito still unavailable due to long-term injury.