Lewandowski record soured as Mainz beats Bayern
Bundesliga champion Bayern Munich fell to a 3-1 defeat at Mainz despite Robert Lewandowski setting another record.
Julian Nagelsmann's side sealed a record 10th straight league title by defeating Borussia Dortmund last time out, but was soon behind on Sunday (AEST) after strikes from Jonathan Burkardt and Moussa Niakhate.
Robert Lewandowski halved the arrears with his 18th away league goal this season – a new Bundesliga benchmark for a single campaign – before Leandro Barreiro Martins restored Mainz's two-goal cushion after the interval.
Bayern was unable to respond as the champions suffered just a second defeat in its past 10 games against Mainz, which moved up to ninth with this victory.
Burkardt cannoned against the crossbar and the post, while the unmarked Alexander Hack was denied by the woodwork but Mainz's early dominance soon paid dividends.
Sven Ulreich thwarted Karim Onisiwo from close range yet could not stop Burkardt when the striker powered a left-footed attempt home after Dominik Kohr's headed offload.
Niakhate doubled Mainz's advantage when he tapped in after Anton Stach's flick, before Lewandowski rolled into the bottom-right corner following Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting's pass to reduce the deficit.
Barreiro Martins almost restored the hosts' two-goal lead before the interval, only for his left-footed free-kick to curl narrowly wide.
But Barreiro Martins's luck was in after the break when his strike deflected in off Benjamin Pavard.
Burkardt dragged wide and Onisiwo smashed on to the crossbar from the edge of the area as Bayern, which repeatedly appeared frail on the counter-attack, was unable to mount a comeback.
