Depleted Bayern suffer shock 2-1 loss to Gladbach in season restart
Bayern missing more than a dozen players due to Covid-19, National duties and injuries.
A provisional Bayern Munich team scored two goals in four minutes to beat Borussia Moenchengladbach 2-1 on Friday as the Bundesliga resumed after a three-week winter break.
With nine players missing through the Covid-19 infection and Africa Cup of Nations duties and injuries, league leaders Bayern still comfortably cornered Gladbach for almost 30 minutes and went through top scorer Robert Lewandowski in 18th. Took the lead.
But the visitors hit twice with their first two chances of the game, with a Florian Neuhaus volley in the 27th minute and a glazing header from Stefan Lanner shortly after turning the game over.
Top scorer Lewandowski twice hit the woodwork as Bayern pushed for a draw and missed several chances.
Bayern have 43 points with Borussia Dortmund, who travel to Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday, second on 34.
"The first half was very strange," said Bayern's Thomas Muller. "I don't know how long we completely controlled the game and then comes 1-1 out of nothing.
“We have still created enough chances. Luck was not with us and in the end you have to change your chances. This defeat is bitter. We have to digest it."
Conditions were perfect for Bayern to resume the season, with no fans allowed due to COVID-19 restrictions and the bigwigs including keeper Manuel Neuer, Lucas Hernandez, Leon Goretzka, Leroy Sane, Alfonso Davies and Kingsley Koman. The name was absent.
But he still enjoyed a strong start and Lewandowski, who came close in the 15th minute, was on target a little later with his 20th goal of the season when he moved his marker with a brilliant first touch and a powerful shot. fired with ,
Bayern have now scored in each of their last 65 Bundesliga games, equaling the league record they set in 2014.
But out of nowhere the visitors leveled with Neuhaus with the Bayern defence in disarray.
They then progressed to the 31st when Stefan Lenner went past a corner, leaving Bayern's backline out of place again.
Gladbach, who beat Bayern 5–0 in the German Cup in October, could add a third with Neuhaus and Briel Embolo just before the break.
Lewandowski dodged the post with a shot in first-half stoppage time and then hit the crossbar just before the hour mark as the hosts pushed for equalisation.
Running out of options off the bench, Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann brought on Paul Vanner, who became the youngest Bayern player to make his Bundesliga debut at 16 years and 16 days, and 17-year-old Lukas Copado, but did not find the champion. . an equalizer.
