The Dutchman netted with just a minute of normal time remaining at the Coface Arena, as the Bavarians broke their own points record for the halfway point of the Bundesliga season
Manuel Neuer thanked Bayern Munich team-mate Arjen Robben for his “heavenly” winning goal in Friday’s dramatic 2-1 triumph at Mainz.
The unbeaten Bavarians had been expected to coast to victory at the Coface Arena but they fell behind after just 21 minutes of play, with Elkin Soto nutmegging Neuer to send the home crowd into raptures.
Bastian Schweinsteiger promptly levelled matters with a sublime free-kick but Bayern looked destined to drop points in the Bundesliga for just the fourth time this season.
However, with just a minute of normal time remaining, Juan Bernat squared the ball for Robben to steal a victory that saw Bayern break their own points record for the halfway point of the season (45).
“It was heavenly,” Neuer said of his Dutch colleague’s last-gasp winner in Mainz. “We are delighted with ourselves!”
It was Robben’s fourth goal in his last three Bundesliga outings but the Netherlands international was reluctant to accept any praise for his crucial contribution at the Coface Arena and instead expressed his sympathy to Mainz for having suffered such late heartbreak.
“Compliments must go to our team,” the former Real Madrid man added. “We bounced back well to falling behind and I’m happy with the win.
“But I feel sorry for Mainz, who gave everything. They deserved a point, but that’s football.”
Bayern Munich now have just over five weeks off before resuming their bid for a third consecutive Bundesliga title with a trip to Wolfsburg on January 30.