Manuel Neuer
As always, he took part in building up the game, once he even passed the ball with his chest. But even when he was playing, which the national goalkeeper likes to do so much, Neuer noticed that it was an exhausting afternoon: the Mainz team sometimes attacked him in their own six-yard area. And of course he had to complain again about what his people in front actually think of to let the opponent counter so regularly.
Benjamin Pavard
The Frenchman has often dropped a bit in the Bayern team in recent months, and his game is mostly characterized by solid work. The game against Mainz was initially again not a shine for him. Was part of the chain of three (not sufficiently supported by the people in front), which defended at 0: 1 more like a pile of three, without the right staggering. But it got a lot better with the whole team in the second half.
Dayot Upamecano
Was very lucky that his anything but clever tackle behavior against Jae-sung Lee did not result in a penalty. Didn’t look happy at the 0: 1 either. And generally not for the first time in his defense work looked like an extremely committed waiter, who, however, falls over at least one glass per table.
Lucas Hernández
Was the most defensive defender in the shaky first half. When it comes to closing gaps with sprints or tackling and compensating for tactical deficits, Hernández is often there as a type of wild tackle. Left accordingly drawn and hobbling for Niklas Süle after an hour.
Jamal Musiala
It’s not new anymore, but that doesn’t make it any less fantastic to see him dribble. On Saturday sometimes with runs from your own defensive third, circling several opponents in a confined space, you could watch it for hours. But it was a bigger challenge for him to prove his ability to defend himself in the game against the ball as a replacement for Leon Goretzka. Already saw the yellow card in the middle of the first half because he straddled Jonathan Burkardt on the instep. With Goretzka, Bavaria is probably less susceptible to counter-attack. But at the latest when Musiala scored the 2-1 with a deliberately placed shot from the edge of the box in the 74th minute, the amazement prevailed again.
Corentin Tolisso
Was the Kimmich replacement again, and he will remain so at least until Christmas due to the consequences of the corona infection of the national player. This includes such pleasant tasks as taking free kicks and playing wonderful passes from your own half, as in his submission to 1: 1. One of the less pleasant tasks is looking at him when catching up and rolling up your sleeves. The 2-1 fell when he was substituted.
Kingsley Coman
He ran away with all his desperate opponents from FC Barcelona, tricking and hitting hooks like blows during the week. Did the same against Mainz at the start of the game. Yes, at this point the praise for the opponent: The Bundesliga club was clearly better than Barca, and that was also true for the defenders Aarón Martín and Moussa Niakhaté, who did not let Coman run away for a long time. But when he ran away, he met immediately. The second time he missed the chance to make it 2-1 after a rapid dribble. For the sake of fairness this should be said: The task of defending against him should be one of the most demanding of all in Europe.
Thomas Müller
The physical condition of the entire team can often be read from Müller. In the first half he slipped and cursed, sometimes he missed a chance and complained. At first there was no comedy program on Radio Müller in the empty arena. “Be glad he wasn’t in,” he whispered to the angry Mainzers when he missed the goal (they wanted a kick). In the second half you could hear Müller cheering again.
Leroy Sané
Was praised by coach Julian Nagelsmann for his defensive work during the week, it also made it noticeable against Mainz. In this context, however, saw yellow towards the end of the first half for hitting the ball – referee Benjamin Cortus had previously classified a ball conquest as a foul. Replaced after 65 minutes – but will not be less praised for that in the future.
Alphonso Davies
There’s no point in pretending Alphonso Davies is a left-back. Because Davies is planned in the backward movement at Bayern as a full-back. But first of all, a backward movement against Mainz is actually not planned as much as it was reality in the first half. And secondly, Davies is back up front so quickly that you can sort him right where he plays with the ball under Nagelsmann – as a winger. Often dragged the ball a little lucklessly, but until the end in front of the Mainz goal.
Robert Lewandowski
How difficult this afternoon was for Bayern was perhaps best seen by the world footballer in the striker. None of his actions this afternoon should be remembered for a long time. And if you saw it correctly, he didn’t bother to hide his expandable mood in the meantime.
Substitute players
Next Niklas Süle for the defense came after an hour too Marc Roca, who then formed a double six with Musiala, which should not be considered the top-class solution for Bayern. Also came Serge Gnabry for Leroy Sané. But offensive was less in demand in the final phase. In the 82nd minute came Tanguy Nianzou for Musiala to keep the result.