Bayern beat Mainz 2-1 as Neuer, 40, set club record but is substituted with injury

Bayern Munich secured a 2-1 Bundesliga win over Mainz on Saturday, while goalkeeper Manuel Neuer became the club’s oldest player at 40 years, 225 days. Neuer was substituted before half-time with a recurrence of a foot injury and was in the spotlight after an error that nearly allowed Mainz an equaliser.

Neuer’s appearance overtook Bernd Dreher’s age record and ended when Jonas Urbig replaced him before the interval. The near-miss came when Neuer flailed at a cross and Lee Jae-sung appeared to put the ball in the net, although the effort was ruled out for offside. The mistake followed a high-profile error against Augsburg last month that led to the fastest-ever Bundesliga goal after eight seconds by Robin Fellhauer.

According to Sofascore using Opta data, the Augsburg error was Neuer’s fifth that led to a goal in his previous 17 Bundesliga games, the equivalent of one every 3.4 matches. By contrast, in the 248 appearances before that stretch he made 10 such errors, or one every 24.8 games.

Neuer has played twice since the Augsburg fixture, having missed four matches with the foot problem, and returned for this week’s 2-0 Champions League win at Atlético Madrid. He was unable to finish Saturday’s game, however, after the recurrence of the injury.

The Ballon d’Or winner Harry Kane did not score against Mainz but supplied two assists, setting up Joshua Kimmich and 18-year-old Lennart Karl, as Bayern extended their unbeaten away run in the league to 31 games. Those contributions helped Bayern preserve their position at the summit of the Bundesliga.

Bayern maintained their lead at the top from Borussia Dortmund, with both clubs on 21 points from nine games and Bayern holding a superior goal difference. Dortmund were given a scare by promoted Elversberg but prevailed 2-1 thanks to two goals from Felix Nmecha.

Third-placed RB Leipzig, three points behind the leaders, beat Augsburg 5-2 at home. Jonathan Burkardt scored a 93rd-minute equaliser as Eintracht Frankfurt drew 2-2 at Paderborn.

Later on Saturday, Real Madrid can move level with Barcelona overnight at the top of La Liga by winning at Valencia, and the La Liga leaders visit Atlético on Sunday. In Italy, a Roma win at home to Sassuolo would put them a point behind Lazio, who visit Napoli on Sunday lunchtime, while Paris Saint-Germain can cement their place at the top of Ligue 1 by beating Troyes at home.