Bayern Munich’s defensive frailties finally took their toll as Borussia Mönchengladbach came from two goals down to beat the Bundesliga leader 3-2 on Friday.
Jonas Hofmann scored twice and Florian Neuhaus provided the bow as Gladbach dealt Bayern just its second defeat in 15 games.
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Bayern Munich’s defensive frailties finally took their toll as Borussia Mönchengladbach came from two goals down to beat the Bundesliga leader 3-2 on Friday.
Coach Hansi Flick was determined for his team to make a good start and Bayern was given an opening early on when Neuhaus was penalized through VAR for handball in the penalty area.
But the defending champions’ issues hadn’t gone away, as Hofmann showed when he beat the visitors’ offside trap to score after a brilliant through ball from Lars Stindl.
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Moenchengladbach's Jonas Hofmann, left, tries to shoot the ball in front of Bayern's goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, center, during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Moenchengladbach and Bayern Munich at the Borussia Park in Moenchengladbach, Germany, Friday, Jan. 8, 2021. (AP PhotoMartin Meissner, Pool)
Bayern's Leroy Sane, right, tries to dribble past Moenchengladbach's Matthias Ginter, left, during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Moenchengladbach and Bayern Munich at the Borussia Park in Moenchengladbach, Germany, Friday, Jan. 8, 2021. (AP PhotoMartin Meissner, Pool)
Referee Harm Osmers shows a yellow card to Bayern's Niklas Suele, left, during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Moenchengladbach and Bayern Munich at the Borussia Park in Moenchengladbach, Germany, Friday, Jan. 8, 2021. (AP PhotoMartin Meissner, Pool)
Moenchengladbach's Jonas Hofmann scores his second goal against Bayern's goalkeeper Manuel Neuer during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Moenchengladbach and Bayern Munich at the Borussia Park in Moenchengladbach, Germany, Friday, Jan. 8, 2021. (AP PhotoMartin Meissner, Pool)
Bayern's Douglas Costa, left, fights for the ball with Moenchengladbach's Denis Zakaria, right, during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Moenchengladbach and Bayern Munich at the Borussia Park in Moenchengladbach, Germany, Friday, Jan. 8, 2021. (AP PhotoMartin Meissner, Pool)
Bayern conceded first in each of its previous eight league games but recovered to lose none.
Moenchengladbach's Florian Neuhaus, right, scores his team's third goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Moenchengladbach and Bayern Munich at the Borussia Park in Moenchengladbach, Germany, Friday, Jan. 8, 2021. (AP PhotoMartin Meissner, Pool)
Coach Hansi Flick was determined for his team to make a good start and Bayern was given an opening early on when Neuhaus was penalized through VAR for handball in the penalty area.
Robert Lewandowski duly converted the penalty in the 20th minute, consequently also ending Bayern’s habit of conceding the first goal.
Leon Goretzka then won the ball in midfield, played a one-two with Leroy Sané, and doubled Bayern’s lead in the 26th.
Moenchengladbach's players celebrates their goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Moenchengladbach and Bayern Munich at the Borussia Park in Moenchengladbach, Germany, Friday, Jan. 8, 2021. (AP PhotoMartin Meissner, Pool)
But the defending champions’ issues hadn’t gone away, as Hofmann showed when he beat the visitors’ offside trap to score after a brilliant through ball from Lars Stindl.
Stindl won the ball from Joshua Kimmich to set up Hofmann just before halftime. The goal was initially flagged offside, but a VAR review showed Hofmann was behind Niklas Süle when Stindl played him through. Hofmann had plenty of time to pick his spot and he stayed cool before slotting the ball inside the left post.
Süle was again at fault when Gladbach got its third goal in the 49th, when his wayward pass was intercepted by Hofmann, who played a one-two with Breel Embolo before laying the ball off for Neuhaus, who let fly inside the top-right corner.
Bayern's Thomas Mueller, left, tries to shoot the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Moenchengladbach and Bayern Munich at the Borussia Park in Moenchengladbach, Germany, Friday, Jan. 8, 2021. (AP PhotoMartin Meissner, Pool)
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Moenchengladbach's Breel Embolo, center, controls the ball as Bayern's Leon Goretzka, right, tries to stop him, during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Moenchengladbach and Bayern Munich at the Borussia Park in Moenchengladbach, Germany, Friday, Jan. 8, 2021. (AP PhotoMartin Meissner, Pool)
Moenchengladbach's Jonas Hofmann, left, tries to shoot the ball in front of Bayern's goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, center, during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Moenchengladbach and Bayern Munich at the Borussia Park in Moenchengladbach, Germany, Friday, Jan. 8, 2021. (AP PhotoMartin Meissner, Pool)
Bayern's Leroy Sane, right, tries to dribble past Moenchengladbach's Matthias Ginter, left, during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Moenchengladbach and Bayern Munich at the Borussia Park in Moenchengladbach, Germany, Friday, Jan. 8, 2021. (AP PhotoMartin Meissner, Pool)
Referee Harm Osmers shows a yellow card to Bayern's Niklas Suele, left, during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Moenchengladbach and Bayern Munich at the Borussia Park in Moenchengladbach, Germany, Friday, Jan. 8, 2021. (AP PhotoMartin Meissner, Pool)
Moenchengladbach's Jonas Hofmann scores his second goal against Bayern's goalkeeper Manuel Neuer during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Moenchengladbach and Bayern Munich at the Borussia Park in Moenchengladbach, Germany, Friday, Jan. 8, 2021. (AP PhotoMartin Meissner, Pool)
Bayern's Douglas Costa, left, fights for the ball with Moenchengladbach's Denis Zakaria, right, during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Moenchengladbach and Bayern Munich at the Borussia Park in Moenchengladbach, Germany, Friday, Jan. 8, 2021. (AP PhotoMartin Meissner, Pool)