Sadio Mane’s two assists and goal helped Bayern Munich to a 6-2 Bundesliga victory over Mainz 05 on Saturday.
Mane brilliant for dominant Bayern
Jonathan Burkardt failed to score for Mainz from the spot
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting also on targetWHAT OCCURED? The Senegal forward played a key role in Bayern breaking the deadlock in the sixth minute. Serge Gnabry received a pass from Leon Goretzka before releasing it to Mane, who continued his run toward the box.
The former Liverpool forward crossed the ball into the penalty box, where it was controlled by Gnabry, who fired past a crowded penalty area to give the Bavarians the lead.
Mane came close to scoring in the 17th minute after being set up by Jamal Musiala, but his drive was blocked by a defender as Mainz preferred to sit back in order to contain the all-fired Bundesliga giants.
Musiala put the German champions ahead in the 28th minute. Alphonso Davies played a pass into the box that found Musiala, but the Bayern teenager chose to pass the ball to Choupo-Moting, and the Cameroonian returned the pass to Musiala, who found the bottom corner for his seventh Bundesliga goal of the season.
Mane scored the third goal for the Bavarians shortly before halftime. Alexander Hack brought down the Africa Cup of Nations winner, and while the penalty was not initially given, Bayern was awarded one following a VAR review.
Mane brilliant for dominant Bayern
Jonathan Burkardt failed to score for Mainz from the spot
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting also on target
Mainz goalkeeper Robin Zentner made an early save, but Mane scored from the rebound in the 43rd minute. Burkhardt’s failed to score from the penalty spot in the second minute of added time as Sven Ulreich flicked it over the bar.
But two minutes later, the visitors scored from a corner when Silvan Widmer met Aaron Martin’s near-post cross and headed past Ulreich.
Despite a valiant effort near the end of the first half, Mainz conceded the fourth goal in the 56th minute.
Mane was involved once more, this time with a brilliant run off the left past Edimilson Fernandes before delivering a cross into the six-yard box that found an unmarked Goretzka, who scored with a powerful header.
In the 76th minute, Mathys Tel replaced Mane and scored within two minutes to make it 5-1. For his third goal for the Munich club, the 17-year-old Frenchman unleashed a low shot that deflected off Widmer and into the net.
THE VERDICT: Mane finished with seven shots, three off-target shots, six key passes, a 69% accuracy rate, and two aerial duels.
Choupo-Moting had four on-target shots, two off-target shots, three key passes, and a 75% passing accuracy. He also won two aerial battles.
WHERE ARE MANE AND CHOUPO-MOTING GOING? Bayern will play Inter Milan in the Champions League on November 1 before hosting Hertha Berlin in the Bundesliga four days later.
