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Played
February 2, 2013 8:00 PM IST
Coface Arena — Mainz
Referee: M. Weiner
Attendance: 34000
February 2, 2013 8:00 PM IST
Coface Arena — Mainz
Referee: M. Weiner
Attendance: 34000
Top of the Match
Mario Mandzukic
Bayern
Bayern
Mario Mandzukic
Bayern
Bayern
Flop of the Match
Radoslav Zabavnik
Mainz
Mainz
Radoslav Zabavnik
Mainz
Mainz
Goal.com Rating 
Fans' Rating Mainz 0-3 Bayern Munich: Mandzukic double inspires comfortable victory
The in-form striker hit twice after half-time to sink Thomas Tuchel's men, who failed to respond after going down to Thomas Muller's strike late in the first period
By Daniel Edwards
Bongarts
Bayern Munich were helped by an impressive double strike from Mario Mandzukic as they opened up a 14-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga, disposing of Mainz in a convincing 3-0 victory away from home.
The hosts had matched the league leaders throughout the first half, but fell away alarmingly after Thomas Muller put his side in the clear; and the Croatian striker further twisted the knife as he added two more after the interval.
Bayern enjoyed clear control of possession in the first 45, but the visitors struggled to translate that superiority into chances in the final third. Mainz defended enthusiastically and pulled no punches, resulting in two bookings before the interval as the tackles flied in across the pitch.
The hosts may have been on the back foot, but they did pose a significant danger on the counter. Shawn Parker had a handful of opportunities as he unsettled the Bayern defence, failing to hit the target after wriggling clear in the area to the relief of the travelling support.
An underwhelming fixture suddenly burst into life in the final minutes of the half. Javier Martinez enjoyed one of die Roten's first clear chances of the match when he connected with Toni Kroos' corner, but the Spaniard's header was stopped by Christian Wetklo and the keeper reacted well to claim the rebound with the midfielder closing in on goal. Despite the increase in pressure, however, it was still a surprise when Bayern snatched the lead.
In a rare moment of inattention from the Mainz defence, Kroos' well-weighted through-ball found a gap and swung into the path of the advancing Thomas Muller. The Germany international barely broke stride as he rounded Wetklo out wide, before delicately sliding the ball into the empty net from a rapidly decreasing angle. Coming four minutes before the break, the strike was a hammer blow for a Mainz side who had conceded their first goal of 2013, leaving them with an uphill task to rescue something from Saturday's encounter.
The home team's challenge only became more fierce after the break, when a clinical Bayern doubled their advantage. David Alaba was the architect of their second, smashing a hole down the left with a brilliant run, and Mario Mandzukic was left with the easiest of finishes to convert the full-back's low cross and leave his side in a dominant position.
Mainz were shambolic following Bayern's double strike, and the only question remaining appeared to be how many the Bundesliga leaders would add to their tally before the end of the match. Mandzukic popped up once again to make it three, heading past the despairing Wetklo after connecting with Phillipp Lahm's cross to the far post.
The rest of the match was all too easy for the Bavarians, who played the ball around at will against a demoralised opposition. Mandzukic and Parker both had chances at either end, but there would be no further movement on the scoreboard as Bayern strolled to a third successive victory in 2013 and tightened their grip on the race to the Bundesliga title.
The win means Bayern temporarily open up a 14-point lead over Bayer Leverkusen, in second place. Their challengers will hope to close the gap on Sunday, when they face current champions Borussia Dortmund at home.
The hosts had matched the league leaders throughout the first half, but fell away alarmingly after Thomas Muller put his side in the clear; and the Croatian striker further twisted the knife as he added two more after the interval.
Bayern enjoyed clear control of possession in the first 45, but the visitors struggled to translate that superiority into chances in the final third. Mainz defended enthusiastically and pulled no punches, resulting in two bookings before the interval as the tackles flied in across the pitch.
The hosts may have been on the back foot, but they did pose a significant danger on the counter. Shawn Parker had a handful of opportunities as he unsettled the Bayern defence, failing to hit the target after wriggling clear in the area to the relief of the travelling support.
An underwhelming fixture suddenly burst into life in the final minutes of the half. Javier Martinez enjoyed one of die Roten's first clear chances of the match when he connected with Toni Kroos' corner, but the Spaniard's header was stopped by Christian Wetklo and the keeper reacted well to claim the rebound with the midfielder closing in on goal. Despite the increase in pressure, however, it was still a surprise when Bayern snatched the lead.
In a rare moment of inattention from the Mainz defence, Kroos' well-weighted through-ball found a gap and swung into the path of the advancing Thomas Muller. The Germany international barely broke stride as he rounded Wetklo out wide, before delicately sliding the ball into the empty net from a rapidly decreasing angle. Coming four minutes before the break, the strike was a hammer blow for a Mainz side who had conceded their first goal of 2013, leaving them with an uphill task to rescue something from Saturday's encounter.
The home team's challenge only became more fierce after the break, when a clinical Bayern doubled their advantage. David Alaba was the architect of their second, smashing a hole down the left with a brilliant run, and Mario Mandzukic was left with the easiest of finishes to convert the full-back's low cross and leave his side in a dominant position.
Mainz were shambolic following Bayern's double strike, and the only question remaining appeared to be how many the Bundesliga leaders would add to their tally before the end of the match. Mandzukic popped up once again to make it three, heading past the despairing Wetklo after connecting with Phillipp Lahm's cross to the far post.
The rest of the match was all too easy for the Bavarians, who played the ball around at will against a demoralised opposition. Mandzukic and Parker both had chances at either end, but there would be no further movement on the scoreboard as Bayern strolled to a third successive victory in 2013 and tightened their grip on the race to the Bundesliga title.
The win means Bayern temporarily open up a 14-point lead over Bayer Leverkusen, in second place. Their challengers will hope to close the gap on Sunday, when they face current champions Borussia Dortmund at home.
Goal
Own Goal
Penalty
Penalty Missed
Yellow Card
Assist
Penalty Save
Penalty Shootout Goal
Penalty Shootout Miss
Yellow Card / Red Card
Red Card
Substitution IN
Substitution OUT
Injury
Goal.com Rating
Goal.com Man of the Match
Goal.com Flop of the Match
Top & Flop Global Ranking
Fans' Man of the Match
Fans' Flop of the Match
Results
Times In IST
Live
Final
scheduled
Suspended
Cancelled
Postponed
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Stefan Kießling Striker Bayer Leverkusen |
25 | 4 |
|
Robert Lewandowski Striker Borussia Dortmund |
24 | 1 |
|
Alexander Meier Midfielder Eintracht Frankfurt |
17 | 3 |
|
Vedad Ibisevic Striker VfB Stuttgart |
15 | 5 |
|
Mario Mandzukic Striker FC Bayern München |
15 | 0 |