Arjen Robben's last-minute winner ensured German leaders Bayern Munich ended a successful 2014 with a dramatic victory at mid-table Mainz. Mainz led when Elkin Soto met a low right-wing cross to fire through the legs of Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer.
But their lead lasted 167 seconds as
Bastian Schweinsteiger curled a 20-yard free-kick into the top corner. Neuer superbly denied Mainz midfielder Yunus Malli shortly after half-time before Robben struck from close range. Bayern, who won the German league and cup double last term, move 14 points clear of nearest rivals Wolfsburg, who host Cologne on Saturday.
With the Bundesliga taking a five-week winter break after this weekend, the Bavarian club have already been crowned as the 'Herbstmeister' - the title given to the side who enter the mid-season point as league leaders.
But Pep Guardiola's side, who have won 14 and drawn three of their 17 Bundesliga matches, were rather fortunate to leave Mainz with maximum points.
Ballon d'Or nominee Neuer is vying with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to be crowned as the world's best player and, despite his earlier error for Mainz's opener, showed his world-class quality to deny Malli.
The Mainz midfielder raced clear of the Bayern defence on to Koo Ja-cheol's lofted through-ball, only to see his angled half-volley beaten away by the 28-year-old keeper.
And that save proved pivotal. Netherlands forward Robben netted the winner, in the same week he was crowned Dutch Sportsman of the Year, by converting Juan Bernat's left-wing cross with 30 seconds of normal time remaining.
Bayern return to action when they visit Wolfsburg on 30 January
1. FSV Mainz 05
21 Karius
18 Brosinski
03 Wollscheid
02 Jara
24 Park Joo-ho
06 Geis
19 Soto Booked
15 De Blasis (Pflücke - 81' )
11 Malli (Sliskovic - 87' )
13 Koo Ja-cheol Booked (Díaz Campbell - 79' )
23 Okazaki
Substitutes
01 Kapino
09 Allagui
20 Díaz Campbell
22 Koch
30 Pflücke
32 Roßbach
35 Sliskovic
Bayern Munich
01 Neuer
13 Rafinha
17 Boateng
04 Dante
18 Bernat
31 Schweinsteiger
34 Höjbjerg
10 Robben
19 Götze (Pizarro - 77' )
07 Ribéry (Weiser - 92' )
25 Müller
Substitutes
14 Pizarro
15 Scholl
16 Gaudino
23 Reina
24 Kurt
29 Zingerle
30 Weiser
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