The run of poor results for defending champions FC Bayern München continues, as a listless first home defeat of the season sees the pressure start to build on coach Niko Kovač. For visitors Borussia Mönchengladbach, it was a stunning coup as they swept to a convincing victory at the Allianz Arena.
The teams
Following the disappointing Champions League outing against Ajax in midweek, Niko Kovač made three changes to his starting eleven. Niklas Süle, Leon Goretzka and James Rodríguez were all in, with flu-bound Jérôme Boateng missing out and Javi Martínez and Franck Ribéry on the subs' bench.
There were just two changes for Foals' Trainer Dieter Hecking. Patrick Herrmann and Denis Zakaria were left on the bench for this one, with Jonas Hofmann making a start alongside skipper Lars Stindl, who was back in the team after his ankle injury just before the end of last season.
Efficient, clinical Gladbach
Bayern started brightly, but were stunned in the tenth minute. After that, it was all huff and puff for the men from the Bavarian capital. After some excellent approach play from Stindl and then Hofmann, summer signing Alessane Pléa did the rest. Twisting nicely into position, the Frenchman sent a crisp shot that gently curled away from the helpless Manuel Neuer.
The second goal was an absolute calamity. A short goal kick by Neuer was missed up completely by Thiago, whose poor pass help set up Gladbach's second. It is still October, but Bayern are already doling out Christmas gifts. It capped the perfect return for Stindl, whose ice-cool finish sent the visitors two up at the break.
Bayern were passing the ball around and bossing the possession, but were unable to match their opponents' sharpness in front of goal. There were opportunities for Arjen Robben (32.) and Robert Lewandowski (36.) but Gladbach 'keeper Yann Sommer was hardly tested.
Oktoberfest haze
The coach tried to change the personnel at half-time, but the match continued to meander. The possession and passing remained constant, but there was no energy or drive to make these statistics count for anything. If things could not get any worse for the Bayern coach, Austrian left-back David Alaba was forced to withdraw after 55 minutes with a suspected hamstring injury.
Lewandowski did have the ball in the opposition net after 67 minutes, but the offside flag went up against the Polish striker. The decision was correct but marginal, symptomatic of what happens an out of form team is simply not getting the breaks.
With two minutes remaining, sub Herrmann escaped a very close handball call to score Gladbach's third, essentially putting the reigning champions out of their misery. Bayern had not lost a match over the Oktoberfest period in eight years, but now that had lost back to back fixures.
While Gladbach celebrated, Bayern and their fans were left feeling punch-drunk.
Result: FC Bayern München 0 Borussia Mönchengladback 3 (Pléa 10., Stindl 17., Herrmann 88.)
If you are an FC Bayern München fan or would simply like to read more about the team, you can find my dedicated blog Red Ramblings at http://blog.redodyssey.co.uk.
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