Bayern remain at the top of the Bundesliga with 43 points, but Union Berlin, one point behind (42) the reigning tenfold German champions, receives Schalke on Sunday (3:30 p.m.) and can take control of the championship on the evening of the 21st day, in case of victory against the red lantern.

For its part, Borussia Dortmund (40 points) can return to equality with Bayern in the event of success at home on Sunday (5:30 p.m.) against Hertha Berlin.

Union and BVB remain on an incredible dynamic, with seven wins in 2023 for Dortmund and six wins and a draw in the Europa League for the Berliners.

Bayern's last defeat dated back to September 17, a trip to Augsburg (1-0) in the Bundesliga, on behalf of the 7th day.

Since then, Julian Nagelsmann's men had lined up thirteen league matches without defeat, including nine wins, two Cup wins and five Champions League successes, the latest at the Parc des Princes against Paris SG (1-0) in round of 16 first leg of the Champions League.

But in Gladbach, the meeting quickly turned bad for Bayern de Nagelsmann, who had again opted for a three-way defense with Benjamin Pavard, Dayot Upamecano and Daley Blind.

In the 9th minute, on a counter attack by Alassane Pléa, Upamecano received a red card, for a slight foul in the position of last defender.

"It was one of the turning points of the meeting. I find it severe, but there is no point in discussing it," said goalkeeper Yann Sommer, who moved from Gladbach to Bayern this winter, at the microphone of broadcaster Sky.

Nkunku passer for his return

Two minutes later, on a free kick conceded by Alphonso Davies on one hand, Jonas Hofmann ideally served his captain Lars Stindl to deceive Sommer and open the scoring (13th).

The Bavarian equalizer came from Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting in the 35th minute of play, but Borussia Mönchengladbach dominated the proceedings and logically took the lead in scoring by Hofmann in the 55th, perfectly served by Pléa in the back.

Left on the bench at the start of the game, Marcus Thuram came into play for the last quarter of an hour and gave Borussia some air ten minutes later (3-1, 84th).

The goal of young Frenchman Mathys Tel in added time (90th + 3) only revived a semblance of suspense (3-2).

This Munich setback further tightens the Bundesliga, since in the afternoon, Freiburg and RB Leipzig, members of the leading quintet, won respectively in Bochum and Wolsfburg and came back to three and four points from Bayern.

Leipzig has reunited with its French center-forward and striker Christopher Nkunku, three months after tearing the external ligament of his left knee just before leaving for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Nkunku came on in the 69th minute and Leipzig were already leading 1-0.

In about twenty minutes of play, the French slipped a decisive pass to Konrad Laimer (85th), four minutes after a huge opportunity.

Dominik Szoboszlai concluded the victory of Leipzig (3-0), which allows him to return to four points from Bayern (39 against 43).

Saturday evening (6:30 p.m.), Eintracht Frankfurt of Randal Kolo Muani (6th, 35 points) can return to the race in the event of victory against Werder Bremen.

© 2023 AFP