BERLIN - Leaders Bayern Munich suffered a shock 2-1 loss at Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday on a day of high drama in the Bundesliga after Schalke 04 staged a remarkable four-goal comeback to draw 4-4 at Borussia Dortmund.
It was Bayern’s first loss after nine straight wins in all competitions under coach Jupp Heynckes, who took over in October, and only their second in the league this season.
Bayern still lead on 29 points but the defeat cut their advantage to three points, with RB Leipzig now on 26 after their 2-0 win over Werder Bremen.
Gladbach struck twice late in the first half, in the 39th minute with a Thorgan Hazard penalty and five minutes later through Matthias Ginter.
Bayern, missing several key players through injury, fought back when Arturo Vidal scored with a low shot but they could not find an equaliser despite twice hitting the woodwork.
”We invested too little in the first half. We lost the game in that first half,“ Heynckes told reporters. ”We were too slow, we struggled with our rhythm.
“But we played the game only on one goal in the second half. We had chances.”
It was far more dramatic in Dortmund where Schalke 04 defender Naldo rose high to score a stoppage-time equaliser as they roared from 4-0 down at halftime to complete the Bundesliga’s best comeback in 41 years.
Dortmund had scored four times in 13 minutes but saw their lead evaporate after the break as in-form Schalke, with four wins from their last five league games before Saturday, refused to surrender.
The Royal Blues became only the second Bundesliga team in history to avoid defeat after trailing by at least four goals, after Bayern Munich, who won 6-5 at VfL Bochum after trailing 4-0 in 1976.
There was more misery for Dortmund, without a league win since September, as top striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who had scored one goal and set up another, was sent off in the second half for a foul that earned him a second yellow card.
“At halftime I honestly did not believe we could still get a point from the derby,” Schalke coach Domenico Tedesco said.
“That is why it feels so good. That second half was top level football.”
Yet under-pressure Dortmund coach Peter Bosz, whose future at the club hangs in the balance, could only reflect: ”It is difficult to deal with it. You just feel disappointment. – Agencies
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