Both Bayern Munich and Mainz 05 have had some good chances since Bastian Schweinsteiger put the visitors ahead inside of ten minutes, but Louis van Gaal’s team have weathered a bit of a storm and are still 1-0 up at the break.
Mainz 05 Vs. Bayern Munich: FCB Hold Narrow Lead At Halftime
Neither defence has been convincing, and Bayern’s Holger Badstuber has had a particularly poor game. Mainz nearly profited from the weakness in FCB’s central defence on twenty-five minutes, as Petar Sliskovic was one-on-one with Bayern goalkeeper Thomas Kraft, but the ball was just too far ahead of the Croatian striker and Kraft was able to claim it, although he recieved a knock on the forehead in the process.
Andre Schürrle had an even better chance just a few minutes later as Kraft came out but failed to claim the ball; Schürrle had a nearly open goal to shoot at but scooped his chipped effort just a foot wide of the Bayern goal. FCB have also gotten close to creating some chances, and Robben has been quite busy, but the visitors haven’t been playing the best final balls.
Luis Gustavo, who started the game at left back for Bayern, has switched positions with Daniel Pranjic; the Croatian international is now on the left side of the defence, while Gustavo is playing alongside Bastian Schweinsteiger in midfield. Hans-Jörg Butt looks set to come on for Bayern in the second half because of Sliskovic’s accidental kick into Kraft’s forehead. The veteran German goalkeeper could help calm down things in the Bavarians’ defence, but for Bayern no lead on the road seems very safe.
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