Berlin (AFP) - Bayern Munich, the defending champion, and Borussia Dortmund maintained the same distance without any change at the top of the German Football League, after they won with the same score (2-1) over Mainz and Elversberg, respectively, on Saturday in the ninth stage.

Published on: 07/11/2026 - 17:41

Bayern remained in first place with a goal difference of (+11) over Dortmund, and both of them maintained a series of matches without losing, so the Bavarian team reached 21 matches since its loss in the semi-finals of the Champions League to Paris Saint-Germain, the defending champion, last April.

Dortmund also reached seven matches without losing in various competitions.

In Mainz, Joshua Kimmich opened the scoring after he received a ball from Englishman Harry Kane in front of the penalty area and shot it forcefully into the goal (14).

The hosts thought they had equalized with South Korean Jae-Sung Lee's header after veteran goalkeeper Manuel Noel made an incorrect pass from a free kick, but the video assistant referee (VAR) disallowed the goal (40).

It appeared that Neuer had suffered a foot injury, and was quickly replaced by Jonas Orbig seconds before the end of the first half.

The match was appropriate for Neuer to become the oldest player to play a match for Bayern Munich in the German League, at the age of 40 years and 225 days, knowing that he is the third oldest goalkeeper to play in the “Bundesliga” after Uli Stein (42 years and 170 days) and Tony Schumacher (42 years and 73 days), according to the Opta statistical network.

In the 57th minute, Leinart added Karl II with a close shot, taking advantage of the goalkeeper's exit to confront Kane, who shot a ball that bounced off the defense (57).

Substitute Philippe Tets reduced the score in the third minute of stoppage time.

In Dortmund, the hosts played without Guinean striker Serho Geraci due to injury, then they lost Austrian Karne Chukwuemeka in the 34th minute due to injury as well.

Midfielder Felix Nmecha took on the role of scorer, opening the scoring in the 55th minute with a powerful shot from outside the area to the right of the goal.

He secured the hosts' victory with a beautiful shot from outside the area as well (71).

This is the second time this season that the international has scored two goals in one match, after his brace against Paderborn in the third round, noting that he has not scored in other than these two league matches.

Substitute Noel Futekto reduced the score three minutes after his entry, but that did not prevent his team from suffering its fourth loss, leaving its score at 13 points.

Paderborn won against its guest, Eintracht Frankfurt, and tied with two goals for the same.

The Filipino Rafael Obermeyer (45) and substitute Marvin Berenger (73 from a penalty kick) scored for the hosts, while two goals were scored by Yonatan Burkart (23 and 90 + 3), noting that the visitors played with ten players since the 75th minute after Elias Baum was sent off.

Leipzig crushed its guest, Augsburg, with five goals scored by Congolese Democrat Ezekiel Banzozi (33), Frenchman Christopher Nkunku (35), David Raum (45+1), Brazilian Romulo (60) and Austrian substitute Christoph Baumgartner (66), against two goals from Anton Kadeh (1) and Nigerian substitute Uchenna Ogundo (90+2).

© 2026 AFP

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