Joshua Kimmich dedicated his first goal of the season to his late father after scoring in Bayern Munich's 2-1 Bundesliga win over Mainz on Saturday, in one of the most emotional moments of the German football season so far.

Kimmich put the champions ahead in the 14th minute at the MEWA Arena, lashing a powerful strike into the top corner after Harry Kane had picked up a loose ball in Mainz's build-up play. The midfielder celebrated by leaping into the air and pointing towards the sky in memory of his father Berthold, who died in October at the age of 57.

"I don't score many goals," Kimmich said after the match. "After this one, I obviously immediately thought of him, so I was definitely more emotional than I otherwise would have been."

The 31-year-old had missed three competitive matches to grieve before returning to the side in last weekend's 2-2 draw with Borussia Dortmund in Der Klassiker. He admitted that returning to football had brought its own challenges, telling Kicker: "When I'm playing football, that's when I think about him most often, because football connected us so deeply."

Youngster Lennart Karl doubled Bayern's lead in the 57th minute, again set up by Kane, before Philipp Tietz headed home a stoppage-time consolation for Mainz. The victory moved Bayern to 21 points and kept them top of the Bundesliga on goal difference, ahead of Borussia Dortmund, who also won at the weekend.

Kimmich's performance earned him the man of the match award, voted for by supporters through the Bundesliga app, and he knew exactly what he would do with the prize. "I think I'm going to send it to my mother," he said. "The last one was for my father, and this one is now for my mother."

The midfielder also spoke about how the squad has pulled together through a difficult period, with head coach Vincent Kompany currently unavailable due to illness and Jamal Musiala also sidelined. "It is special how we have grown together in recent years," Kimmich said. "The players, staff and everyone involved treat each other with huge respect and support each other in every situation."

Teammate Aleksandar Pavlovic echoed that view, saying the players were playing for their absent coach and colleagues. "We live the 'Mia san Mia' mentality and are a family both on and off the pitch," Pavlovic said. "Especially over the past few weeks, we've been playing for our coach and the players who aren't available."

Kimmich acknowledged that the win at Mainz was far from Bayern's most convincing display, but the champions defended their lead professionally to head into the international break unbeaten in all competitions and still setting the pace at the top of the table.