Bundesliga
Bayer Leverkusen are preparing for their biggest league game in decades on Sunday, when a home win over Werder Bremen would bring Xabi Alonso's unbeaten side their first Bundesliga title.
Bayern Munich have been handed a timely boost with the return of forwards Harry Kane and Kingsley Coman for their Bundesliga clash against rivals Borussia Dortmund, but goalkeeper Manuel Neuer remains sidelined with injury, manager Thomas Tuchel said.
Former Bayern Munich captain Philipp Lahm is convinced Bayer Leverkusen, who are seeking their first Bundesliga title, will end the Bavarian team's 11-year hegemony this year.
The result left champions Bayern, who have 54 points from 24 league matches, seven behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen, who have 61 and can pull further away with a win over Cologne on Sunday.
The Bundesliga leaders, who lacked their usual efficiency up front while also allowing the visitors enough space to attack, needed a mistake by Mainz keeper Robin Zentner to snatch the win.
Donyell Malen scored twice to help Borussia Dortmund to a 3-0 victory over visitors Freiburg in the Bundesliga on Friday and tighten their grip on fourth spot.
Champions Bayern, chasing a 12th consecutive league title, are in second place in the Bundesliga, two points behind Leverkusen, who are undefeated in all competitions this season for a 30-game unbeaten run.
Bayern Munich's Jamal Musiala scored twice to give the champions a 3-0 victory over Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga restart on Friday as the club remembered Germany great Franz Beckenbauer who died last week.
Bayern Munich kick off the year with their Bundesliga match against visiting Hoffenheim on Friday, hoping to cut the gap to leaders Bayer Leverkusen as the league resumes after a three-week-winter break.
Bayern Munich's Harry Kane tapped in from close range midway through the first half for a 1-0 victory at Cologne on Friday, stretching his sensational record scoring run in the Bundesliga while lifting his team provisionally to the top of the table.
Brandt dashed into the penalty area and gathered a precise pass from Emre Can, before gracefully chipping the ball over Werder's goalkeeper Michael Zetterer to score in the 67th minute.
The Bavarians have failed to beat the Foals in their last five matches across all competitions, with Gladbach winning three and drawing two.
Plagued by defensive errors and a low conversion rate in attack since last year's departure of striker Robert Lewandowski to Barcelona, Bayern look to have carried these ailments into the new season.
Bayern, who kick off their season later on Saturday in the Super Cup against RB Leipzig, said the 30-year-old striker was signed until 2027 after protracted talks between the two clubs.
The Spaniard who took over the then struggling club in October last year, led Leverkusen to a sixth place finish and a Europa League semi-final spot last season.
Leipzig are in fourth place on 36 points, three behind visitors Union, who have won more league matches this season than leaders Bayern Munich.
The season may only be 10 matchdays young but Hertha Berlin and Sunday's league opponents Schalke 04 are already firmly locked in a battle for survival in the Bundesliga.
Union this season have picked up where they left off and after firing six goals past hosts Schalke 04 last week they have now scored 11 in their four league games -- another club record -- with Sheraldo Becker joint top scorer in the Bundesliga with four.
German fans are not allowed to light any form of smoke bombs, fireworks or flares inside the league stadiums and violation of that rule always leads to sanctions and fines.
The DFL had predicted a drop in turnover of about one billion euros during the 2020-21 season if fans had to stay away throughout the campaign.
Most Read
