Masterclass 2 min read

Bo Svensson: How Mainz beat Bayern Munich

Bo Svensson: How Mainz beat Bayern Munich
Photography by Tim Jobling
Author
Tony Hodson
Published on
July 27 2023

bundesliga, april 24 2021

Mainz 2Bayern Munich 1

Burkardt (3)
Quaison (37)

Lewandowski (90+4)

Having played for Bundesliga club Mainz under both Jürgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel, Bo Svensson returned as head coach in January 2021. Fourteen games into a league season still played almost entirely behind closed doors as a result of the Covid pandemic, Mainz had won only one game and looked set for certain relegation.

The team won only one point from Svensson’s first three games in charge – albeit from an encouraging draw away at Borussia Dortmund – and at halfway in the league season sat second bottom with only seven points from 17 games. The Dane oversaw a sensational reversal in form in the second half of the season, however. Mainz won nine and drew five of their final 17 games as they roared to safety, eventually finishing 12th of 18 teams in Germany's top flight.

Jonathan Burkardt celebrates putting Mainz ahead within three minutes Alexander Scheuber/Getty Images

At the heart of the team’s survival was a nine-game unbeaten run from the beginning of March, and the most impressive result in that period was a stunning home victory against perennial champions, Bayern Munich.

In this exclusive Coaches’ Voice Masterclass, Svensson reveals the tactics that underpinned such an important win, with a subtle shift in formation designed to limit the wide threat in Bayern's familiar 4-2-3-1 shape and make Mainz more dangerous in transition. He also explains how he set up his team to maximise their time in possession, the key qualities that enabled certain players to prove so effective against the Bundesliga’s dominant force, and how this game influenced his tactical approach in the seasons that followed.

It’s a fascinating insight from a coach with a growing reputation. We hope you enjoy it!

Starting line-ups
MainzBayern Munich
2719424236352272129151727196181025299
Mainz5-4-1
Bayern Munich4-2-3-1
27Robin Zentner
1Manuel Neuer
23Phillipp Mwene
5Benjamin Pavard
19Moussa Niakhaté
17Jérôme Boateng
42Alexander Hack
27David Alaba
4Jerry St Juste
19Alphonso Davies
22Danny da Costa
6Joshua Kimmich
7Robin Quaison
18Leon Goretzka
6Danny Latza
10Leroy Sané
35Leandro Barreiro
25Thomas Müller
29Jonathan Burkardt
29Kingsley Coman
21Karim Onisiwo
9Robert Lewandowski
Match stats
MainzBayern Munich

6/3

SHOTS / ON TARGET

14/4

29.9%

POSSESSION

70.1%

17

ATTACKS INTO AREA

37

0.77

EXPECTED GOALS (XG)

1.89