Bayern pushed to the limit, but win
December 20, 2014
In the first game of the final matchday in 2014, Mainz hosted Bayern Munich. Xabi Alonso, Mehdi Benatia and Sebastian Rode were all out, with Jerome Boateng, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg coming in for Pep Guardiola's side.
Mainz started in illustrious fashion, putting the ball in the net inside the opening five minutes. However, Pablo de Blasis' flicked header came from an offside position and Bayern escaped conceding what would have been a rare opening goal.
The home side didn't have to wait long to make that rarity a reality though. Stunningly and deservedly, Mainz took the lead after Hojbjerg misplaced a pass in midfield. A low ball across the area was tucked home through Manuel Neuer's legs by Elkin Soto at the back post.
Schweinsteiger levels sumptuously
The goal stirred Bayern into more pressing action - Thomas Müller had a shot blocked superbly by Gonzalo Jara and Arjen Robben had had a goal disallowed for offside before Mainz's opener.
With most of the football world confused at what they were seeing, Bastian Schweinsteiger stepped up to curl a beautiful free kick from the edge of the area in off the post. 1-1, order restored. No further goals fell before the half-time whistle, but Mainz persisted in frustrating their Bavarian visitors. Yunus Malli, excelling in midfield, had a good chance to put the home side back into the lead but his chip was too weak and Neuer saved comfortably.
Having run 4km more than their opponents in the first half, it was a question of how long could Mainz last the pace of testing Bayern. Five minutes into the second half and the answer seemed quite a while - Malli burst through but saw his effort saved brilliantly by Neuer.
Mainz throw bodies on the line
Ja-Cheol Koo then slipped and Mario Götze was in on goal, but the South Korean brought down the Bayern man by heading his knee. Nothing came of the free kick, but it showed how determined Mainz were to take something from the game.
Johannes Geis threw himself in front of Hojbjerg's shot to stop a certain goal, as the rest of the game continued to hang on such fine margins. Juan Bernat cleared to deny Mainz a clearer chance, as Mainz kept surprising and impressing with their tenacity.
A tense finale looked to be heading towards a deserved draw for the home team, but almost inevitablely Bayern scored a late winner. An endless run for Ribery saw Bernat's low cross fall at the feet of Robben. The Dutchman gobbled up the chance to steal the three points and the club's 14th win of the season.