Arjen Robben nets winner as Bayern sink Mainz

Arjen Robben hit an injury-time winner, as Bayern Munich recorded their eighth successive Bundesliga victory with a 2-1 win over Mainz 05 at the Coface Arena.

The home side, who had amassed just four points from their previous nine matches, played the more fluent football in the opening stages, and deservedly took the lead midway through the half when Elkin Soto drilled a low cross from the right from Shinji Okazaki through the legs of Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

The German champions levelled just two minutes later when Bastian Schweinsteiger netted his first goal since April by arrowing a free-kick from 25 yards over the wall and into the top corner of Loris Karius' goal.

Neuer went some way to atoning for his mistake with a sharp save to deny Yunus Malli, before newly-crowned Dutch Sports Personality of the Year Robben wrapped up the points a minute into injury-time from Juan Bernat's low cross from the left.

Bayern Munich now lead second-placed Wolfsburg by 14 points at the top of the Bundesliga.

21' – GOAL!Mainz 1-0 Bayern Munich. Soto puts through Neuer's legs at the far post following a great low cross from the right from Okazaki.

23' – GOAL!Mainz 1-1 Bayern Munich. Bastian Schweinsteiger makes it 1-1 with a superb free-kick into the top corner of Karius' goal, after Jara had been adjudged to have jumped on Muller.

49' – SAVE! Malli bears down on goal from the right channel but Neuer does well to save to his right.

68' – SAVE! Muller is unhappy as Gotze's cross does not reach him and deflects for a corner, then Boateng's shot from the corner is easily saved by Karius.

90+1' – GOAL! Mainz 1-2 Bayern Munich. Bernat cuts the ball back into the area and Robben drills home from six yards. That came from a mistake by Mainz substitute Pflucke, who took a quick free-kick in midfield and lost the ball.

Mainz's defeat means they have gone nine games without a win, with their last victory coming on matchday eight against FC Augsburg.

Bayern Munich are now 21 matches unbeaten in the league, a run that goes back to last season.

Bayern have now won their last five in a row against Mainz, who haven't beaten the record German champions since November 2011.

Will Bayern clinch the title even earlier this season? Bayern clinched the Bundesliga in this fixture last season with their 2-0 victory handing them the title with a record seven games to play. Tonight, Pep Guardiola's side were far from their best but still managed to pick up maximum points. The win at the Coface Arena sees the German champions extend their lead over second-placed Wolfsburg to 14 points. If they are to emulate last season, they will have to win their matchday 27 encounter on 4 April. The opponents that day? Borussia Dortmund at the Westfalenstadion!

Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich) This was not perhaps Robben's most fluent night on a football field, but he worked hard right until the end, and had the positional sense to end up in the right place at the right time to hit the winner for the German champions.

Mainz: Karius 7; Brosinski 7, Wollscheid 7, Jara 7, Park 6, Geis 7, Soto 7, Malli, Koo 6, De Blasis 7, Okazaki 6. Subs: Sliskovic 6, Diaz 6, Pflucke 5.

Bayern Munich: Neuer 5, Rafinha 6, Boateng 6, Dante 6, Bernat 7, Hojbjerg 6, Schweinsteiger 7, Robben 8, Muller 6, Gotze 6, Ribery 6. Subs: Pizarro 6, Weiser 6.