Berlin [Germany], November 8: Joshua Kimmich's first Bundesliga goal of the season helped injury-hit Bayern Munich win 2-1 at Mainz on Saturday and stay top of the table on goal difference.
Borussia Dortmund remain level on points with the similarly unbeaten champions after overcoming promoted Elversberg 2-1 at home thanks to Felix Nmecha's second-half double.
The Germany midfielder first rifled home from outside the box after being set up by Fabio Silva, who again impressed with striker Serhou Guirassy out injured. Nmecha added the clincher with an equally memorable strike before Noel Futkeu's goal for Elversberg prompted a nervous finale in Dortmund.
Kimmich's finish from 20 metres was just as emphatic for Bayern and Harry Kane also assisted Lennart Karl for 2-0 after the break. Mainz, who lost for the fourth game in a row in all competitions, have not won at home in the Bundesliga since March and substitute Phillip Tietz's goal came too late.
Midfielder Kimmich, who lost his father recently and pointed to the sky in celebration, told reporters: "In the second half, we really put in a composed performance. With the 2-0, the game was essentially decided. Mainz did come back late, but the win was never in danger."
The double winners, already missing Luis Diaz, Jamal Musiala, Ismael Saibari and Serge Gnabry, prevailed in Mainz despite suffering another injury. Manuel Neuer, who became the oldest Bayern player in the Bundesliga aged 40 years and 225 days old, was substituted with a recurring foot problem just after flapping at a cross. He was relieved to see a Mainz equalizer ruled out by VAR for a tight offside as he hobbled off.
Bayern were without coach Vincent Kompany for a fifth game due to illness, but the Belgian is expected to return after the international break for their next match against Cologne on November 20.
Leipzig go big A medical emergency in the away end meant fans refrained from noise for much of the first half in Mainz, just like at Paderborn's 2-2 home draw with Eintracht Frankfurt. The 10-man Eagles levelled in stoppage time after goalkeeper Noah Atubolu went up the other end and flicked on for Jonathan Burkardt to score a classy second.
RB Leipzig are third after nine games having come from behind to hammer Augsburg 5-2.
The 13th-placed visitors scored in the first minute through Anton Kade, but their early season form has deserted them. Ezechiel Banzuzi, Christopher Nkunku and dropped Germany left back David Raum netted before half-time, with Romulo and Christoph Baumgartner scoring after the hour and Uchenna Ogundu adding a consolation.
VfB Stuttgart snapped Werder Bremen's seven-game unbeaten league streak after Maximilian Mittelstadt's goal brought about a 1-0 home win in the late game.
Left back Mittelstadt, included in Jürgen Klopp's latest Germany squad ahead of Leipzig's Raum, struck on 7 minutes to fire the hosts up to eighth and leave Bremen fifth.
Bremen's recalled Germany forward Niclas Füllkrug failed to score for the first time in nine games. On Friday, bottom side Borussia Monchengladbach lost 3-1 at Hamburg.
There are three matches on Sunday, including Cologne against derby rivals Bayer Leverkusen and fourth-placed Freiburg welcoming Union Berlin.
Source: Qatar Tribune
