Three second-half goals saw Borussia Monchengladbach to a 3-1 victory over Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.
Bayern Munich's unbeaten start
to the Bundesliga season came to shuddering halt as they were beaten
3-1 at Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday.
The defending champions had won 13 of their
opening 14 matches, but came unstuck at Borussia-Park as Andre
Schubert's revival stepped up a gear thanks to three second-half goals.
Monchengladbach have lost just one of their 14
matches in all competitions since Schubert took over from Lucien Favre
in late September.
Bayern completely dominated the opening 45
minutes but found themselves frustrated by home goalkeeper Yann Sommer,
while Kingsley Coman hit the post.
And the hosts made Pep Guardiola's side pay for
their wasted opportunities after the interval – Oscar Wendt firing them
in front, before Lars Stindl doubled the advantage.
Munich-born Fabian Johnson made sure of a second
consecutive win over Bayern when he rounded off the scoring for
Schubert's men in the 68th minute, before Franck Ribery – making his
first appearance in nine months – scored a late consolation.
The result lifts Monchengladbach to third in the
table with fourth-placed Wolfsburg set to face Borussia Dortmund later
in the day. Dortmund could close the gap on leaders Bayern to five
points with victory in that match.
Guardiola - without the services of David Alaba,
Douglas Costa, Arjen Robben, Thiago Alcantara and Mario Gotze through
injury - named an unchanged starting XI for the first time in 100
matches, although Ribery made a welcome return to the substitutes' bench
having been out since March with an ankle problem.
Monchengladbach tested Manuel Neuer inside the
opening two minutes as Raffael pulled the trigger from 20 yards, before
Javi Martinez headed narrowly over from a Xabi Alonso corner in Bayern's
first chance.
Bayern were starting to turn the screw and, with
18 minutes on the clock, Robert Lewandowski failed to apply the finish
to a slick passing move, before an unmarked Thomas Muller saw his shot
from inside the box punched away by Sommer.
Medhi Benatia should have done better when he
headed straight at Sommer from an Arturo Vidal free-kick in the 24th
minute, but the goalkeeper could take full credit for keeping the match
goalless when he produced a double save soon after.
After initially keeping out Vidal, Sommer made an
excellent diving stop to deny Lewandowski on the rebound, and Coman's
follow-up hit the woodwork.
Bayern's profligacy in front of goal was
eventually punished when Wendt, who initially flicked on a cross from
the left to Raffael, received the return pass and curled an effort
beyond Neuer.
Monchengladbach had Bayern on the ropes, Julian
Korb seeing an effort deflect off Neuer's boot onto the crossbar, but
Stindl acrobatically lifted the ball over the Germany number one
following a Nico Elvedi flick on to double the advantage in the 66th
minute.
And Johnson then delivered the knockout blow two
minutes later, when he was given time to bring down a Korb ball over the
top and pick his spot.
Ribery's introduction 15 minutes from time
- along with his well-taken 81st-minute goal - were the only positives
for Bayern on an otherwise disappointing day at the office.
Key Opta stats:
- Pep Guardiola suffered his first defeat in a first half of a Bundesliga season (in the 49th match).
- Andre Schubert remains unbeaten in his 10 Bundesliga matches and has gained 26 points. Only Michael Buskens has more in Bundesliga history (28).
- Franck Ribery, who made his comeback after 269 days injured, played his 300th competitive match for Bayern Munich and scored his 105th goal.
- Bayern conceded three goals within 15 minutes, the last time that happened to them was in May against Barcelona. Back then they lost 3-0, conceding three goals within 14 minutes.
- Andre Schubert remains unbeaten in his 10 Bundesliga matches and has gained 26 points. Only Michael Buskens has more in Bundesliga history (28).
- Franck Ribery, who made his comeback after 269 days injured, played his 300th competitive match for Bayern Munich and scored his 105th goal.
- Bayern conceded three goals within 15 minutes, the last time that happened to them was in May against Barcelona. Back then they lost 3-0, conceding three goals within 14 minutes.
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