Mainz 05’s Lee Jae-sung scored a goal on either side of midfield as the home team beat Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich 2-1 on Saturday, ending their unbeaten run in the league this season.
South Korea international Lee scored four minutes before the break after taking advantage of a defensive error by the mediocre visiting team.
The 32-year-old doubled the home side’s lead at the end of the game, finishing off a brilliant move in the penalty area that froze Bayern’s entire defense.
It was also the first league defeat for Bayern coach Vincent Kompany, who last week became just the third coach in Bundesliga history to go unbeaten in his first 13 league games.
The Bavarians got a goal back with Sane in the 87th game and remain at the top of the table with 33 points, 4 points ahead of Bayer Leverkusen, having defeated Augsburg 2-0.
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Bayern are missing eight players through injury, including top scorer Harry Kane, but they started strongly with Michael Ollis hitting the woodwork in the sixth minute.
Mainz suffered a major blow when Jonathan Burkat, who had scored in the previous four league games, missed the target after a strong sprint and was injured in the 14th minute.
But the greater threat was for the hosts, who missed their best chance when Anthony Cacchi’s close-range shot was blocked by Bayern goalkeeper Daniel Peretz.
Four minutes before the break, Lee was better, receiving a cross that first bypassed Bayern players Kim Min-jae and Olise.
He then scored again when he had his first chance of the second half, turning and breaking through in the penalty area after six quick passes from Mainz.
Even after Sane’s late goal, Kompany’s side showed no desire to come back and Mainz comfortably maintained their lead.
Champions Leverkusen beat Augsburg to move into second place
Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen scored twice in the first half to easily defeat host Augsburg 2-0 on Saturday, climbing to second place in the Bundesliga with four consecutive league wins.
Leverkusen made it their last seven games with a 1-0 win over Inter Milan in the Champions League in midweek, taking the lead when Martin Terrier struck in the 14th minute.
Leverkusen briefly took their foot off the gas to give the home side more space, but Florian Wirtz doubled their lead in the 40th minute with a low strike.
“I’m very happy with the game, especially the way we played,” Leverkusen coach Xavi Alonso said. “We were very solid and in control and it’s not easy. That’s how we want to play on the road.”
Leverkusen is currently unbeaten in 24 consecutive Bundesliga away games, second only to Bayern Munich.
“This win is good for us. The next game, that’s our only focus. The table in December is not that important. It’s more about the way we play. As for anything else. , it’s still too early,” Alonso said.
Leverkusen are second with 29 points, four behind leaders Bayern, who suffered their first league defeat of the season with a 2-1 defeat at Mainz 05.
