Bayern Munich made a strange mistake in the title race after Borussia Dortmund’s offensive fireworks and fell with a crash from the top of the table. Coach Julian Nagelsmann’s team lost 2-1 (1-0) at Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday, gave up the lead and is suddenly one point behind BVB in the table ahead of the league summit in two weeks.
Dortmund, the only remaining challenger for the championship, beat 1. FC Köln 6-1 on Saturday. Bayern are not leaders for the first time since the twelfth matchday.
Bayern wobbled in Leverkusen. Before Joshua Kimmich (22nd) took the first chance to lead, Leverkusen were clearly overweight. With high pressing, the team of former Bayern professional Xabi Alonso gave the Munich team hardly any time or space – initially the only thing lacking was efficiency.
Palacios converts both penalties for Bayer Leverkusen
Leverkusen turned the game around through Exequiel Palacios, who converted penalty kicks in the 55th and 73rd minutes. Referee Tobias Stieler needed the support of his video assistant for both penalties. In both cases, Stieler initially gave Amine Adli yellow because of an alleged swallow, but then took the cards back in each case.
In two weeks there will be a duel with BVB in Munich, Nagelsmann and his Dortmund coach colleague Edin Terzic should now spend the international break with analyzes and video studies.
Leverkusen started strong and energetic. FCB keeper Yann Sommer was alert when Kerem Demirbay took a corner directly on goal (10′), then he saved against Jeremie Frimpong (16′), just before that Moussa Diaby narrowly missed from a distance (15′).
Bayern showed how it could be done better: After a cross from Joao Cancelo, Leon Goretzka put it on Kimmich, who easily converted from eleven meters. The goal took away some of the momentum and conviction of Leverkusen in the early stages, with both teams largely neutralizing each other.
Müller and Mané without any connection to the game
Thomas Müller and Sadio Mané, who took turns trying to replace injured goalscorer Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, had little connection to the game. Accordingly, Nagelsmann took the hapless duo and Cancelo off the pitch after the break, with Kingsley Coman, Jamal Musiala and Serge Gnabry now appearing in front of national coach Hansi Flick.
But even with the three newcomers, Bayern didn’t take control. After Benjamin Pavard kicked Adli’s foot, referee Tobias Stieler gave a penalty after viewing the video images, which Palacios converted confidently.
Bayern now increased the pressure and invested more, after an outstanding solo and one-two with Gnabry, Musiala narrowly missed (68th). But again they made a mistake: Dayot Upamecano met Adli, again there was first a yellow card, then penalties – and Palacios scored again.