Mainz 1-2 Bayern: Kane sets up Kimmich and Karl, Neuer goes off injured

Bayern needed a quarter of an hour to break through. In the 14th minute, Kane laid the ball back for Kimmich, who tried his luck from distance. The shot ended up in the back of Robin Zentner's net. It was the German midfielder's first league goal of the season, and not an easy one: the expected-goals model gave him only a one in ten chance of scoring.

Mainz had started fairly well, but the ball soon became Munich's. Zentner had to work to deny Nathaniel Brown, then Dayot Upamecano, before the half-hour. Kane, for his part, sent his first real attempt well over the bar.

The turning point of the first half came just before the break. From a long free kick, Neuer came out but failed to clear the ball cleanly. Lee Jae-Sung headed it in at the far post and the MEWA Arena thought it had an equaliser. After a lengthy video check, the goal was ruled out for offside in the 44th minute. Neuer, who was hurt on his right foot during the move, did not return. Jonas Urbig replaced him in the 45th.

After the interval, Bayern pressed. In the 57th, Kane saw his shot blocked, picked up the loose ball and fed Karl, who doubled the lead with his right foot. Zentner then closed the angle on Kimmich, an Alphonso Davies effort was cleared off the line and Upamecano headed against the bar. Mainz managed just one shot on target all game. That one, in added time, went in: Tietz glanced a cross from Benedict Hollerbach, arriving from the left, beyond Urbig's reach. It was too late for a comeback.

Twenty-six shots to ten

The statistics describe a one-sided match. Bayern had 69% of possession and played 719 passes, more than double Mainz's 321. They took 26 shots, 9 of them on target, against 10 shots and only one on target for the hosts. The expected goals confirm the gap: 2.7 for Munich, 0.64 for Mainz.

Without Zentner, the scoreline would have been heavier. The Mainz goalkeeper made six saves. At the other end, Urbig had nothing to do until he was beaten by the only shot on target he faced. In midfield, Aleksandar Pavlović had 126 touches and Kimmich 98, two figures that show where the match was played. The contest was nonetheless clean: eight fouls on each side and a single booking, for Konrad Laimer in the 76th minute.

Two Kane assists, one Tietz header

Both Munich goals carry the same signature. For the first, Kane dropped deep and released Kimmich at the edge of the box. For the second, he shot first, then had the presence of mind to find Karl after the rebound. On the Mainz side, Tietz's goal came from an inswinging cross by Hollerbach, who came on in the 68th. The two substitutes combined to save some pride, without changing the result.

Bayern dominated, Mainz lacked ammunition

SNA verdict: Bayern did not need a big night from Kane as a scorer to win. The Englishman put only one of his six shots on target, but he created five chances and provided both assists. Around him, Michael Olise kept attempting to make things happen, with seven key passes and four successful dribbles from thirteen. Above all, the leaders held the ball long enough to smother Mainz.

Lining up in a 3-5-2, Mainz held the score at 0-1 until the hour mark, largely thanks to Zentner. But with 31% of possession and a single shot on target, Urs Fischer's side had too little presence in the opposition box. The disallowed Lee goal remains their best moment. It would have changed the complexion of the second half.

That leaves the worry on the Bavarian side. At 40, Neuer went off injured on the very day he added a line to his longevity record. No diagnosis had been given by the end of the match.

Urbig thrown in, Tietz decisive

Bayern's first change was forced: Urbig for Neuer, in the 45th. In the 63rd, Fischer sent on Tietz and Paul Nebel for Ransford Königsdörffer and Lee. Tom Bischof and Davies came on for Munich in the 67th, replacing Karl and Josip Stanišić. Hollerbach replaced Sheraldo Becker in the 68th, and Rael Nakuzola replaced Silvan Widmer in the 69th. The arrivals of Tietz and Hollerbach produced Mainz's only goal. Hiroki Ito and Sacha Boey finished the game for Bayern, coming on in the 86th.

Königsdörffer, an hour's work without a shot on target

Ghana's Königsdörffer was the only African on the pitch. Signed from Hamburg last summer, the Ghana international started up front alongside Becker. In 63 minutes, he took two shots, none on target, and played twelve passes, a sign of how little ball he received. He still won six of his ten duels and made one recovery, in a game where Mainz mostly defended. SNA rating: 6.5. His replacement, Tietz, scored Mainz's only goal.

Bayern stay top, Mainz sink deeper

With 21 points from nine matchdays, Bayern remain top, level on points with Dortmund but with a much better goal difference. Mainz suffer a fourth straight defeat in all competitions and stay 11th with 10 points. The Bundesliga now stops for the international break. Bayern will be waiting for news on their goalkeeper's right foot.

SNA man of the match: Harry Kane

No goal, but two assists, five chances created, six shots and seven of fourteen duels won in 90 minutes. Kane released Kimmich for the opening goal, then turned a blocked shot into a gift for Karl. He also pulled his weight defensively, with three tackles. SNA rating: 9.5.