Heads hanging at FC Bayern. © ANSA / RONALD WITTEK

Wild rollercoaster ride: Bayern loses while outnumbered

FC Bayern and Bayer Leverkusen both failed in the long-distance duel for the championship. Spectators in Munich in particular were treated to an unprecedented spectacle.

March 08, 2025

From: dpa

Three days before the second leg of the Champions League round of 3, both league leaders FC Bayern Munich and champions Bayer Leverkusen lost. Bayern rotated ten positions while outnumbered, and compared to the 0-14 victory in the Champions League over Leverkusen, only Leon Goretzka was back in the starting eleven. Nevertheless, Raphaël Guerreiro put the league leaders 28-2 ahead with a brace in the 0th and XNUMXth minutes.

In the absence of penalty-master Harry Kane, Serge Gnabry hit the post with a foul. Jakov Medic (31') scored the equalizer for the relegation-threatened Bochum team. Shortly before half-time, Bayern's Joao Palinha was sent off for a foul. And then after half-time, things turned around: Ibrahima Sissoko (51') and Matus Bero (71') secured Bochum's coup in the relegation battle and shocked Bayern.

Leverkusen misses golden opportunity

Leverkusen also changed the starting lineup in seven positions three days before the second leg of the round of 7 against Bayern. However, initially without any positive effect: Bremen, who have recently been struggling, took an early lead through Romano Schmid (30th minute), but a second Werder goal by Milos Veljkovic (90th minute) was disallowed by the video assistant due to an offside position. Exceptional player Florian Wirtz came on for the second half, but had to leave the field injured after a foul. Leverkusen pushed for an equalizer - but to no avail. Justin Njinmah (4th+XNUMX) put the finishing touches on the game for Werder.

Werder Bremen has beaten Leverkusen. © APA/afp / INA FASSBENDER

BVB is still looking for consistency. After two wins in the Bundesliga and a 1:1 draw against OSC Lille in the Champions League, coach Niko Kovac's team suffered another setback in the fight to qualify for the Champions League again. Jeffrey Gouweleeuw (23') secured Augsburg's victory in Dortmund with his goal. The supposed equalizer by the recently controversial Julian Brandt was subsequently disallowed for offside, as was the second goal for the visitors, an own goal by Salih Öczan.

Bundesliga, 25st matchday – the results

FC Bayern Munich – VfL Bochum 2:3 (1:2)
Goals: 1:0 Guerreiro (14th), 2:0 Guerreiro (28th), 2:1 Medic (31st), 2:2 Sissoko (51st), 2:3 Bero (71st)

Bayer 04 Leverkusen – SV Werder Bremen 0:2 (0:1)
Goals: 0:1 Schmid (7th), 0:2 Njinmah (90th + 4th)

Borussia Dortmund – FC Augsburg 0:1 (0:1)
Goals: 0:1 Gouweleeuw (23.)

Holstein Kiel – VfB Stuttgart 2:2 (1:1)
Goals: 0:1 Leweling (15th), 1:1 Skrzybski (30th), 2:1 Skrzybski (46th), 2:2 Demirovic (55th)

VfL Wolfsburg – FC St. Pauli 1:1 (0:1)
Goals: 0:1 Van der Heyden (38th), 1:1 Amoura (70th)

SC Freiburg – RB Leipzig (Saturday, 18.30:XNUMX p.m.)
Eintracht Frankfurt – Union Berlin (Sunday, 15.30:XNUMX p.m.)
TSG Hoffenheim – 1. FC Heidenheim (Sunday, 17.30:XNUMX p.m.)