Bayern Munich survives the shock and beats Mainz after being three goals behind

Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich survived the scare and fought back from three goals down to beat Mainz 4-3 on Saturday for a morale boost before facing Paris Saint-Germain.

Bayern, who travel to Paris for the first leg of the Champions League semi-final on Tuesday, arrived in Mainz in high spirits after clinching the title last weekend and reaching the German Cup final with a win over Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday.

But Mainz took a deserved 3-0 lead at halftime against a very changing Bayern team, including Harry Kane, Jamal Musiala and Michael Olise on the bench.

Mainz might even have scored more than the goals that came from Dominik Kohr, Paul Nebel and Sheraldo Becker.

Bayern coach Vincent Kompany sent on Kane and Olise for Luis Díaz and Aleksandar Pavlović at half-time – all four are likely to start against PSG.

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Nicolas Jackson pulled one back in the 53rd and Olise let fly with a brilliant strike inside the far post in the 73rd before Musiala equalized in the 81st.

Kane then scored the winner from the rebound two minutes later after Daniel Batz had saved Musiala’s effort.

Last-place Heidenheim avoided relegation with a 2-0 win over relegation rivals St. Pauli. Budu Zivzivadze scored early and Eren Dinkçi late to keep Heidenheim’s hopes of survival alive with three rounds to go.

Penultimate Wolfsburg could not capitalize on the defeat of St. Pauli, as they drew 0-0 at home against Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Cologne remains in danger after a 2-1 defeat at home to Leverkusen in their Rhine derby. The win moved Leverkusen one point behind fourth-place Stuttgart ahead of Sunday’s match against visiting Werder Bremen.

On Saturday, Eintracht Frankfurt drew 1-1 at Augsburg.

Published on April 25, 2026