Running out of steam
Lacklustre Bayern dig deep to rescue draw against Mainz
BERLIN: Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich twice came from a goal down to struggle to a 2-2 draw against visitors Mainz but stayed nine points clear at the top with four matches remaining.
The Bavarians, chasing a fifth straight Bundesliga title, lacked any spark for much of the game, with Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final extra time loss to Real Madrid having taken its toll on the players.
They are on 70 points, with second-placed RB Leipzig on 61, ahead of their match at Schalke 04 today.
“We made far too many mistakes in the first half,” said Bayern goalkeeper Sven Ulreich, who will replace injured Manuel Neuer until the end of the season.
“That should not happen. “Only in the second half did we play as we had planned.
“Dominant and with good passing. It is disappointing not to have won.”
Bayern, who next face Borussia Dortmund in the German Cup semi-final next week, made an error-ridden start and Bojan Krkic sneaked in to fire the visitors ahead after four minutes.
Levin Oztunali could have dou- bled the lead from close range a little later as Bayern looked disorganised.
Arjen Robben levelled after a fine break from the Bavarians but they were again on the backfoot when Mainz were awarded a 40th-minute penalty and Daniel Brosinski beat Ulreich.
Thiago Alcantara’s low drive from the edge of the box drew Bayern level for the second time but despite late efforts and more than 70% possession they could not find a winner.
They have now gone three matches in all competitions without a victory.
Vedad Ibisevic’s 12th goal of the season gave Hertha Berlin a 1-0 win over Wolfsburg to stay on course for a Europa League spot in fifth place on 46 points.
Max Kruse scored four times in 46 minutes as Werder Bremen crushed Ingolstadt 4-2 to extend their unbeaten run to 10 matches and climb to sixth on 42 points as they continue their remarkable revival since the winter break.
Last-placed Darmstadt earned themselves a mathematical lifeline with a 2-1 win at Hamburg but they are still 11 points off the relegation playoff spot with four games left. — Reuters