Bayern Munich needed a late Harry Kane penalty to avoid a damaging home loss as bottom-placed Mainz stunned the Allianz Arena in a 2–2 draw on Sunday, 14 December 2025 (Bundesliga Matchday 14).
Bayern looked on course when 17-year-old Lennart Karl opened the scoring in the 29th minute, finishing from close range after Bayern carved Mainz open down the right. The leaders controlled possession and territory for long spells, but Mainz stayed compact and carried a threat on the break.
Mainz’s equaliser arrived in stoppage time at the end of the first half. From a set-piece situation, Kacper Potulski found space to convert and silence the home crowd, punishing Bayern for what has been an intermittent vulnerability in dead-ball defending this season.
The visitors then produced the game’s biggest shock after the interval. Mainz broke forward and Lee Jae-sung struck in the 67th minute to put the relegation-battlers ahead, leaving Bayern suddenly chasing the match despite their dominance.
Bayern responded with heavy late pressure and a run of chances, but were repeatedly denied by Mainz goalkeeper Daniel Batz, whose saves and command of his area helped keep the underdogs in front deep into the closing stages.
The breakthrough finally came in the 87th minute when Bayern were awarded a penalty. Kane converted to make it 2–2, securing a point and preventing what would have been a significant upset for the league leaders. The strike was reported as Kane’s 18th Bundesliga goal of the season.
Mainz, however, held their nerve through the final minutes to complete a statement performance away from home. The result still left Bayern clear at the top—Reuters reported the draw extended their lead to nine points—but it also underlined how quickly matches can tilt when control is not matched by ruthlessness in both boxes.
