The Useful Context
BERLIN — Bayern Munich found a way to stay calm when it mattered most. The Bundesliga champions fought back from three goals down to beat Mainz 4-3 on Saturday, climbing out of a 3-0 halftime hole to grab a win that could serve as useful momentum ahead of their Champions League semifinal against Paris Saint-Germain.
Mainz dominated the first half with goals from Dominik Kohr, Paul Nebel and Sheraldo Becker, leaving Bayern's rotated lineup chasing shadows. The 18-year-old Bara Sapoko Ndiaye made his first start for the club, while Harry Kane, Jamal Musiala and Michael Olise began on the bench.
The trophy did not need much decoration; the season had already done most of the talking.
Vincent Kompany sent on Kane and Olise at halftime, and the shift in personnel changed everything. Nicolas Jackson pulled one back in the 53rd minute. Olise curled in a brilliant strike in the 73rd. Musiala equalized in the 81st. Kane then scored the winner two minutes later from a rebound after Daniel Batz saved Musiala's effort.
It is only the second time Bayern has recovered from a three-goal deficit at halftime to win a Bundesliga match. The first came in 1976, a 6-5 victory over Bochum.
The Detail Still Doing Work
Elsewhere, last-placed Heidenheim staved off demotion with a 2-0 win over relegation rival St. Pauli. Second-to-last Wolfsburg could not capitalize on St. Pauli's loss, drawing 0-0 at home with Borussia Mönchengladbach. Cologne remained in danger after losing 2-1 to Leverkusen in their Rhine derby, with Patrik Schick scoring twice for the visitors.
Hoffenheim won at Hamburger SV 2-1 to move into fourth place, the final Champions League qualification spot. Leverkusen's win in Cologne moved it a point behind Stuttgart.
The turnaround did not need polish. It needed players who could handle the scoreboard and the clock at the same time, and Bayern had just enough of both.