FC Bayern fans certainly had something to cheer after the final whistle. After the home game against FSV Mainz 05, midfielder Thiago had a kickabout with his young son Gabriel in the penalty area in front of the South Stand at the Allianz Arena. As the youngster gradually approached the goal it became increasingly louder before frenetic cheering broke out when he crossed the goal line. It was a great end to an afternoon where the supporters of the record champions were able to celebrate their team scoring six times in a convincing 6-1 win.
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In glorious weather and high summer temperatures, the 75,000 fans had to be patient at first. For half an hour, it looked like the game “was going as we planned”, as away coach Sandro Schwarz said after the game. Mainz did not allow Bayern any space, were aggressive in challenges and surprisingly took the lead through Jean-Paul Boetius on six minutes.
“We weren’t in the game up to the first drinks break and were too lethargic. We didn’t counter the aggression from Mainz and we thought it was too easy,” complained Bayern coach Niko Kovač. “Somehow we were asleep for the first minutes,” admitted Niklas Süle. “We gave Mainz a bit too much space and deservedly went a goal down,” added the central defender.
“Won 6-1, mission accomplished, on we go.”
The hosts did “get into the game” in the middle of the first half as David Alaba explained. Bayern were more dominant, put Mainz under increasing pressure and levelled the scores with an impressive volley from Benjamin Pavard (36′). Immediately before half-time, Alaba hit a perfect free kick into the top corner to give FCB a 2-1 lead. “It was important to go into half-time in front,” declared Süle.
Bayern maintained the high tempo after the restart and had further goalscoring opportunities. “We did a really good job in the second half with quick counters and we scored twice from them,” said Süle. Ivan Perišić (54′) and Kingsley Coman (64′) put the result beyond doubt with their goals before striker Robert Lewandowski (78′) netted his sixth of the season and substitute Alphonso Davies (80′) rounded it off.
Particularly noteworthy: The last time there were six different goalscorers in a record champions’ game was 21 years ago in September 1998 (6-1 against Hansa Rostock). New signings Perišić and Philippe Coutinho celebrated successful debut starts for FCB and, beyond that, the Croatian World Cup runner-up and the French World Cup winner Pavard and Perisic opened their accounts with a goal and an assist each for the Reds.
“Of course, we ended up enjoying ourselves in the end,” said Thomas Müller who, for the first time in his career, provided two assists as a substitute and he summed up the biggest win of the season in his usual concise manner: “Won 6-1, mission accomplished, on we go.” After the international break, FC Bayern are back in action in two weeks with the big match away to league leaders RB Leipzig. “A lot of players are on the road and we’ll see how they are when they return. And then we want to win in Leipzig,” said Kovač.
