Mönchengladbach (Germany) (AFP)

At the end of a very high intensity match, Bayern conceded their second defeat of the season on Friday, to Mönchengladbach, beaten 3-2 after leading 2-0 and thus leaving the opportunity for Leipzig to take the lead on their own. ranking Saturday.

Bayern initially believed to kill the match in 26 minutes, with two goals from Robert Lewandowski from the penalty spot (1-0, 20th) and Leon Goretzka (2-0, 26th).

But a brace from Jonas Hofmann (36th, 45th) and a goal from Florian Neuhaus (3-2, 48th) overthrew the "Rekordmeister".

With 33 points, the reigning champion remains provisionally leader but will be overtaken by RB Leipzig (31 pts) if he beats Borussia Dortmund at home on Saturday (6.30 p.m. / 5.30 p.m. GMT), in the other shock at the top of this 15th day .

In difficulty almost in every match for more than two months, Bayern had so far always come out thanks to his iron mind and the talent of his stars, to the point of suggesting that he was invincible.

But Mönchengladbach, who will face Manchester City in the round of 16 of the Champions League, has exposed his weaknesses.

Munich coach Hansi Flick had however reframed his players this week, after a series of eight consecutive matches where Bayern had conceded the first goal.

And his speech seemed to bear fruit early in the match: Bayern monopolized the ball (75% possession in the first 20 minutes), but took no risk, preferring to turn behind than to discover themselves.

- "Open secret" -

It took an unfortunate gesture from the young German international from Gladbach, Florian Neuhaus (23, 3 caps), who reached out to the ball in his own area and grazed it with his fingertips, for the referee whistles penalty (after video viewing) and offers Lewandowski to score his 20th goal in 15 days (1-0, 20th).

A few minutes later, Goretzka, once again huge in midfield associated with Joshua Kimmich, doubled the bet with a beautiful shot from outside the area (2-0, 26 ').

But his goal was only a flash in the gray.

Because Bayern has a flaw and Mönchengladbach had spotted it!

"They defend very high (...) which gives the opportunity to the opponent to find spaces, it is an open secret", had even said the coach of Gladbach, Marco Rose, before the match.

Leaving the wings, the "Colts" systematically sought depth in the axis, in the back of the defense.

And so the attacker Hofmann found himself twice alone in front of Manuel Neuer, to score a double in 10 minutes and allow his team to return to 2-2 just before the break (36th and 45th).

Mönchengladbach came out of the locker room pumped up, and Neuhaus caught up with his guilty hand by finding an opening between David Alaba and Alphonso Davies, on the edge of the box, to place a skylight shot out of reach of Neuer (3 -2, 48th).

Flick tried to restart the machine by bringing in Kingsley Coman in the 68th minute.

The French international, running out of competition after a stoppage for muscle injury, effectively rocked the Rhine defense, but to no avail.

© 2021 AFP