Bayern Munich suffer first league defeat since March as Augsburg win 2-1, allowing Dortmund to close the gap with a 3-0 victory at Union Berlin.
AUGSBURG inflicted a first Bundesliga defeat on Bayern Munich since March with a stunning 2-1 comeback victory on Saturday.
The result ended Bayern’s remarkable 27-match unbeaten league run and handed the leaders a rare setback this season.
Second-placed Borussia Dortmund capitalised by beating Union Berlin 3-0 to cut the deficit at the top to eight points.
Hiroki Ito had given Bayern an early lead with a header from a Michael Olise corner after 23 minutes.
Augsburg, without a win since early December, equalised in the 76th minute through Arthur Chaves after a mistake by Bayern goalkeeper Jonas Urbig.
Han-Noah Massengo then completed the turnaround six minutes later, finishing a superb team move to put Augsburg ahead.
The victory was Augsburg’s first in Munich since 2015, and they held on despite Olise hitting the post deep in stoppage time.
Bayern midfielder Joshua Kimmich admitted his side’s performance was below par.
“We have to accept it — it wasn’t undeserved,” Kimmich told Sky Germany.
“Augsburg were more aggressive towards the end. What’s most crucial is how we react to it.”
Bayern had dropped just four points from a possible 54 in their first 18 games this season.
In Berlin, Dortmund kept their slim title hopes alive with a comfortable win.
Emre Can converted an early penalty after Serhou Guirassy was fouled in the box.
Nico Schlotterbeck doubled the lead after the break with a header against his former club.
Maximilian Beier added a late third goal from a Jobe Bellingham cross to seal the victory.
Schlotterbeck emphasised the need for Dortmund to maintain pressure on Bayern.
“Bayern are almost unbeatable. When they make mistakes, we need to be there,” he said.
“I don’t want the title to be decided in March. That means we need to keep it up for as long as possible.”
Bayer Leverkusen fans celebrated Bayern’s defeat, chanting “the only unbeaten champions” in reference to their own invincible 2023-24 title win.
Leverkusen beat Werder Bremen 1-0 with a goal from Lucas Vazquez to climb to sixth.
Hoffenheim strengthened their top-four position with a 3-1 comeback win at Eintracht Frankfurt.
RB Leipzig moved up to fourth with a 3-0 victory over Heidenheim.
Mainz continued their resurgence with a 3-1 win against Wolfsburg, moving out of the automatic relegation places.
