Bayern Munich comeback for the ages in Mainz among Bundesliga’s all-time top 10

Bayern Munich’s 4-3 victory in Mainz was an instant classic and, having been 3-0 down at half-time, was a fightback for the ages. But where does it rank in a historical context of the Bundesliga’s greatest comebacks?

Well, it was so good that it’s in the top 10. 

Goals from Dominik Kohr, Paul Nebel and Sheraldo Becker appeared to have Mainz on course for a win that would have secured their Bundesliga status for another season.

However, Nicolas Jackson, Michael Olise, Jamal Musiala and Harry Kane replied in the second half as Vincent Kompany’s side showed exactly why they’re the 2025/26 Bundesliga champions.

Watch: Highlights of Bayern's Matchday 31 success in Mainz

Mainz 3-4 Bayern Munich25.04.2026

“What went wrong in the first half?” Kompany said after the final whistle. “Everything. Even though the first 20 minutes in front of Mainz’s goal weren’t that bad. We had a lot of possession, but couldn’t get into their penalty area. Then we conceded three, and it felt like they could have scored four or five.

“There wasn’t any big analysis at half-time. It was just about quality and mentality. The team accepted the fight and cast aside any fear of injury that might have been holding them back. They celebrated as if it were a relegation play-off. I love that.”

Yet as impressive as Bayern’s turnaround was in Mainz, it was not the best in Bundesliga history. Nor in the club’s own history, for that matter.

Watch: Kane on Bayern's rotation in Mainz

Harry Kane's post-match reaction25.04.2026

About the players

9

Harry

Kane

Striker

FC Bayern München

On 18 September 1976, Bayern were 3-0 down at half-time in Bochum and even went 4-0 behind in the 53rd minute. However, a team featuring Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Müller, Uli Hoeneß and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge clawed their way back to win 6-5.

Nevertheless, Saturday’s success in Mainz is the third-best comeback of all time in the Bundesliga, in terms of the time remaining in the game to find a way back.

In second place is Eintracht Frankfurt’s 4-3 home win over Stuttgart on 25 August 1973. Remarkably, the score was 0-0 at half-time, but by the 66th minute, Stuttgart had raced into a 3-0 lead. The Eagles replied with four of their own in a 16-minute spell to take all three points.

The Bundesliga’s all-time top 10 comeback victories (time in minutes to recover)

1. 18 September 1976: Bochum 5-6 Bayern (37 minutes after 4-0 down)
2. 25 August 1973: Frankfurt 4-3 Stuttgart (24 minutes)
3. 25 April 2026: Mainz 3-4 Bayern (45 minutes)
4. 20 October 1973: Kaiserslautern 7-4 Bayern (54 minutes)
5. 25 October 1980: 1860 Munich 4-3 Fortuna Düsseldorf (58 minutes)
6. 31 May 1991: Düsseldorf 3-4 Bochum (59 minutes)
7. 28 August 2010: Wolfsburg 3-4 Mainz (60 minutes)
8. 10 December 2017: Cologne 3-4 Freiburg (61 minutes)
9. 21 May 1988: Leverkusen 3-4 Bayern (72 minutes)
10. 29 September 2024: Hoffenheim 3-4 Werder Bremen (78 minutes)

About the clubs

Bayern Munich

Allianz Arena