BERLIN:
Borussia Moenchengladbach continued their impressive recent record against the Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munichwon 3-2 after a controversial eight-minute red card for defender Dayot Upamecano on Saturday.
Bayern’s Upamecano saw a straight red for bringing down Frenchman Alassane Plea outside the box.
The replay showed that there was little contact but after a short video review the decision was upheld, making it the second time in Germany’s top three games that Bayern have been reduced to 10 men.
Bayern goalkeeper Yann Sommer was given a special welcome before the game, to mark his eight-and-a-half years at Gladbach before moving to Munich to replace the injured Manuel Neuer in January.
Gladbach’s free-kick after the red card was wasted but the home side had another chance just five minutes later when Canadian defender Alphonso Davies handled it at the edge. the corner flag.
Set up to win the free kick, Gladbach’s Jonas Hofmann cut the ball inside to an unmarked Lars Stindl, who fired a low shot into the box. penalty box packed into the goal.
The Bavarians continued to push despite being down a man and equalized on the counter-attack after 35 minutes, when Davies raced across the line and cut the ball back for Eric-Maxim Choupo Moting, which rocketed to one-bar. finish.
Gladbach regained the lead after 55 minutes through Hofmann, who had pushed Bayern into a mistake, making a quick series of passes with Plea before hitting a close-range strike past Sommer.
Gladbach’s Frenchman Marcus Thuram scored the winner in the 84th minute when he headed Hofmann’s cross past Sommer’s outstretched arm.
French teenager Mathys Tel scored in injury time to give Bayern hope, but the home team held on for the win.
The defeat, only Bayern’s second of the season in all competitions, sealed Gladbach’s status as Munich’s home team.
The German champions have beaten Gladbach just once in their last seven meetings.
After the match, a frustrated Nagelsmann entered the referee’s changing room and asked for an explanation after Plea said he “lost his balance” before receiving the red card.
Nagelsmann later apologized saying “I went too far”, adding “we wanted to win here, we didn’t.”
Gladbach manager Daniel Farke praised his “brave” side, saying “the guys did a fantastic job. We’ll have a restful weekend.”
RB Leipzig won 3-0 in Wolfsburg, ahead of Wednesday’s home Champions League last 16 first leg with Man City.
Emil Forsberg gave Leipzig the lead after 14 minutes, capitalizing on Wolfsburg’s failure to clear a dangerous ball on the edge of the box.
Leipzig’s top scorer Christopher Nkunku, returning from an injury that kept him out of France’s Qatar World Cup campaign, set up his side’s second for Konrad Laimer in the 85th minute.
Dominik Szoboszlai scored his team’s third in injury time, extending Wolfsburg’s winning streak to five games.
Speaking after the match, Forsberg said that the “beautiful and important victory” will give his team “self-confidence” for the City clash.
“We’re looking forward to a great game. We want to go out and win.”
In Saturday’s late game, the extraordinary Randal Kolo Muani helped Eintracht Frankfurt stay in touch with the top four, scoring his third goal. tenth league of the season in a 2-0 home win over Werder Bremen.
The strength and movement of the team forced Bremen’s Marco Friedl to score an own goal after seven minutes, before Kolo Muani added another in the second half.
On Sunday, second-placed Union Berlin can go two points clear when they host bottom side Schalke, before next Sunday’s top of the table in Bayern.
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