Bayern win at Mainz to trim Dortmund’s lead

Bayern Munich cut Borussia Dortmund’s lead at the top of the Bundesliga table to just two points yesterday with a 2-1 away win at Mainz, thanks to Thiago Alcantara’s winning goal.

While goals by Leon Goretzka and Thiago sealed the three points for Bayern, Dortmund have only themselves to blame for conceding a 91st-minute penalty which Salomon Kalou converted in their 2-2 draw at home to Hertha Berlin. Dortmund’s England international Jadon Sancho, 18, scored twice and could have finished with four goals in an outstanding display, only for Kalou to snatch a point by converting the late penalty after his first-half goal.

Dortmund’s next home match -- against Bayern in a fortnight -- is shaping up to be a top of the table clash. Bayern have climbed from sixth to fourth and now to second over the last seven days. It was all one-way traffic in the first-half in Mainz as Bayern dominated with Joshua Kimmich hitting the woodwork on 27 minutes, Thiago had a goal disallowed for an offside. The Mainz defence finally yielded when Kimmich sent the ball into the box and Goretzka volleyed home six minutes before half-time as it stayed 1-0 at the break.

Just as it looked like Bayern were going to pull away, Mainz drew level thanks to sloppy defending.