Bayern Munich squanders 2-goal lead to lose to Gladbach 3-2

By: CiaráN Fahey, The Associated Press Posted: 3:40 PM CST Friday, Jan. 8, 2021 Last Modified: 4:26 PM CST Friday, Jan. 8, 2021

Advertise with us

BERLIN - 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.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

BERLIN - 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.

Read unlimited articles for free today:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 08/01/2021 (2073 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BERLIN – 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.

“Gladbach were very efficient. They brutally punished three mistakes that we made,” coach Hansi Flick said.

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 Photo/Martin Meissner, Pool)

Bayern conceded first in each of its previous eight league games but recovered to lose none.

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.

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 again 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.

“We twice lost the ball where we shouldn’t lose the ball and we didn’t react to it properly,” Goretzka said.

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.

“Unfortunately, they punished these two or three bad passes that we had in the buildup,” Thomas Müller said. “But in the end it’s pointless to talk about the goals conceded. We didn’t make enough of our pressure in the second half.”