Bayern Munich overcome Mainz and injuries: Dortmund tighten their grip with a new victory
The Bavarian side scored a goal in each half
Bayern Munich stayed top of the Bundesliga with a 2-1 win at Mainz on Saturday at the Mewa Arena, in the ninth round of the competition.
The victory moved the Bavarian giants on to 21 points, ahead of runners-up Dortmund on goal difference. Mainz stayed frozen on 10 points in 10th place.
Joshua Kimmich opened the scoring in the 14th minute. Harry Kane pounced on a Mainz defensive error, squaring the ball to the German midfielder, who lashed a powerful strike into the top right corner.
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Young Lennart Karl doubled the lead in the 57th minute, again teed up by Kane, before Philipp Tietz headed home Mainz's only goal in the 90+3rd minute.
Neuer injury
Manuel Neuer limped off with a foot injury, Jonas Urbig replacing the Bayern goalkeeper before the end of the first half.
His exit came after a Mainz attack ended with Lee Jae-sung putting the ball in the net, only for the referee to rule it out for offside.
At 40, the German keeper could not finish the game, raising fears of a recurrence of the foot problem that had kept him out of three Bayern matches. He only returned to action against Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League (2-0).
Neuer had started the Mainz clash in a game of special significance, becoming the oldest player to feature in the Bundesliga in a Bayern Munich shirt.
Injuries are already piling up for the Bavarian giants, with Jamal Musiala, Ismail Jakobs, Serge Gnabry and Luis Diaz all absent.
Runners-up continue the chase
Borussia Dortmund kept pace at the same time, beating visitors Elversberg by the same 2-1 scoreline to stay a goal difference behind the leaders.
German international Felix Nmecha struck both Dortmund goals, in the 55th and 71st minutes, while Noel Futkeu grabbed Elversberg's only reply in the 81st.
