Bayern Munich staged a dramatic Bundesliga comeback at MEWA Arena, overturning a 3-0 half-time deficit to beat Mainz 4-3. Second-half goals from Nicolas Jackson, Michael Olise, Jamal Musiala and Harry Kane kept the champions on track, as Vincent Kompany rotated the squad ahead of the Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain.
Mainz still joined a rare group, becoming only the fourth team this millennium to lead Bayern by three goals at half-time in a league match. Yet the Bavarian side again avoided defeat from that position, underlining Bayern Munich’s ability to respond under pressure in domestic competition.
The match statistics highlighted how open the Bundesliga contest became after the interval. Mainz generated 2.29 expected goals from 18 shots, while Bayern produced 1.97 expected goals from 11 attempts. Nine of Bayern Munich’s efforts arrived during the second-half surge that completely changed the meeting with Mainz.
| Team | Shots | Expected Goals (xG) |
|---|---|---|
| Mainz | 18 | 2.29 |
| Bayern Munich | 11 | 1.97 |
Kompany had rested several regular starters, and Bayern Munich were punished early in the Bundesliga clash. After 15 minutes, Dominik Kohr converted a low finish from Kaishu Sano’s precise cross. Mainz continued to threaten, capitalising on Bayern’s changed line-up and forcing the champions onto the back foot.
Mainz doubled the advantage shortly before the half-hour. Nadiem Amiri saw the first effort saved by Jonas Urbig, but Paul Nebel reacted quickest and converted the rebound. The situation worsened for Bayern Munich on the stroke of half-time, when Sheraldo Becker scored from close range after another rebound inside the penalty area.
The response from Kompany came at the break, when Michael Olise and Harry Kane entered. Bayern Munich gained instant control of possession, pushing Mainz deeper. Olise soon helped create the first goal, feeding Konrad Laimer into the area, and the Austrian’s cross allowed Nicolas Jackson to finish from close range and start the comeback.
The pressure increased, and Bayern Munich reduced the gap to a single goal in the 73rd minute. Jackson cut in from the right side of the box and curled a shot beyond Mainz goalkeeper Daniel Betz. Soon after, Musiala danced through several Mainz defenders and poked in from short range to bring the Bundesliga game level.
The decisive moment followed in the 83rd minute. Musiala’s driven cross forced Betz into a block, but the Mainz goalkeeper pushed the ball straight into the path of Kane. The England captain tapped in from inside the six-yard box to complete Bayern Munich’s 4-3 Bundesliga victory over Mainz.
Musiala’s influence stood out despite entering in the 57th minute. The Bayern Munich playmaker recorded the joint-most shots for the side, with four attempts, and also attempted the joint-most dribbles, again four. Alongside the goals from Kane and Olise, those contributions underlined how Kompany’s substitutions changed the Bundesliga match against Mainz.
He is exactly who he thinks he is. pic.twitter.com/TO4SugcymkFC Bayern (@FCBayernEN) April 25, 2026
The dramatic turnaround gave Bayern Munich momentum before facing Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-final first leg. Mainz, despite leading 3-0 and producing strong attacking numbers, left without a point. The match again showed how quickly a Bundesliga contest can change when Bayern find rhythm and finishing accuracy.
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Story first published: Saturday, April 25, 2026, 21:27 [IST]
