Bo Svensson: How Mainz beat Bayern Munich

Having played for Bundesliga club Mainz under both Jürgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel, Bo Svensson returned as head coach in January 2021. Fourteen games into a league season still played almost entirely behind closed doors as a result of the Covid pandemic, Mainz had won only one game and looked set for certain relegation.

The team won only one point from Svensson’s first three games in charge – albeit from an encouraging draw away at Borussia Dortmund – and at halfway in the league season sat second bottom with only seven points from 17 games. The Dane oversaw a sensational reversal in form in the second half of the season, however. Mainz won nine and drew five of their final 17 games as they roared to safety, eventually finishing 12th of 18 teams in Germany's top flight.

At the heart of the team’s survival was a nine-game unbeaten run from the beginning of March, and the most impressive result in that period was a stunning home victory against perennial champions, Bayern Munich.

In this exclusive Coaches’ Voice Masterclass, Svensson reveals the tactics that underpinned such an important win, with a subtle shift in formation designed to limit the wide threat in Bayern's familiar 4-2-3-1 shape and make Mainz more dangerous in transition. He also explains how he set up his team to maximise their time in possession, the key qualities that enabled certain players to prove so effective against the Bundesliga’s dominant force, and how this game influenced his tactical approach in the seasons that followed.

It’s a fascinating insight from a coach with a growing reputation. We hope you enjoy it!

Starting line-ups

MainzBayern Munich

2719424236352272129151727196181025299

Mainz5-4-1

Bayern Munich4-2-3-1

27Robin Zentner

1Manuel Neuer

23Phillipp Mwene

5Benjamin Pavard

19Moussa Niakhaté

17Jérôme Boateng

42Alexander Hack

27David Alaba

4Jerry St Juste

19Alphonso Davies

22Danny da Costa

6Joshua Kimmich

7Robin Quaison

18Leon Goretzka

6Danny Latza

10Leroy Sané

35Leandro Barreiro

25Thomas Müller

29Jonathan Burkardt

29Kingsley Coman

21Karim Onisiwo

9Robert Lewandowski

Author: Tony Hodson