Shock. Horror. Bayern Munich slipped to their first league defeat of the season, falling 3-1 at Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday.
Bayern should have gone in well ahead at the break with Thomas Muller, Robert Lewandowski and Javi Martinez all firing straight at Gladback goalkeeper Jan Sommer when well placed. Kingsley Coman also missed a sitter, hitting the post from close range when it looked easier to score.
Gladbach punished Bayern's profligacy in front of goal, running rampant with three superb goals in 14 second half minutes to overturn the Bayern bandwagon -- the first goals Bayern had conceded during the second half of any league game this season.
The returning Franck Ribery grabbed a consolation goal with 10 minutes remaining, but it proved too little too late for injury-hit Bayern.
Here are the ratings on a disappointing day for the German Champions in North-Rhein Westphalia.
Player ratings (1-10; 10=best; players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating):
GK Manuel Neuer, 6 -- Another tough day at the office against Monchengladbach. Neuer had no chance with any of the three goals and only a fine save from Julian Korb prevented an even heavier defeat.
DF Rafinha, 6 -- Rafinha went close to opening the scoring with a deflected shot on the quarter hour mark. The Brazilian received a deserved yellow for a lunge on Lars Stindl as frustration got the better of him late on.
DF Medhi Benatia, 5 -- The Moroccan walked the red card tightrope after picking up a caution as early as the third minute following an ugly collision with Korb. He was always a threat from set pieces but his first half header was also straight at Sommer. Benatia looked shocked after the three quick-fire goals and in the final minute was sloppy, almost giving away possession on the edge of his own box. He looks far from the top class defender manager Pep Guardiola had in mind when signed last summer from Roma.
DF Jerome Boateng, 6 -- Bayern's rock at the back was left horribly exposed in another similar three-goal spell like the Champions League semifinal defeat in Barcelona. At least he wasn't dropped on his backside.
DF Philipp Lahm, 6 -- Lahm showed his attacking intent from the start with an inch-perfect ball to provide Lewandowski with an early chance. He came out second-best to Oscar Wendt in the lead-up to the hosts' opening goal, and even the 32-year-old skipper looked a little flustered by Gladbach's second half.
MF Xabi Alonso, 5 -- Similar to the 4-1 defeat in Wolfsburg last season, Alonso found the pace of the game beyond him once Bayern fell behind on the counter and had to chase the game.
MF Arturo Vidal, 6 -- Vidal laid on both of Martinez's and Muller's gilt-edged opportunities and also set up Ribery's late consolation. In truth, the Chilean was found wanting as Bayern fell apart after conceding the shock opening goal.
MF Javi Martinez, 7 -- The Spaniard was again Bayern's best on the day with bundles of drive, energy and commitment from midfield. He headed narrowly over from a corner in the 10th minute and was at the heart of any positive Bavarian work. Martinez was another to be denied by a Sommer save but, in reality, he really should have buried the chance from close range.
MF Kingsley Coman, 5 -- Plenty of raw pace and power but the teenager's delivery was appalling on the day and he missed a golden chance as well to put Bayern ahead. Coman could only hit the post when it looked easier to score after Sommer saved from Martinez. A disappointing display from the Frenchman.
FW Thomas Muller, 5 -- Doubting Thomas. Muller joined the first half list of culprits who only found Sommer's midriff with the goal at his mercy. Normally, he would convert that kind of chance with his eyes closed. It proved his best and only opportunity of the game.
FW Robert Lewandowski, 5 -- Another of those days in front of goal for Bayern's top scorer, who failed to add to his 14 league goals this season. He should have scored inside the opening 20 minutes when played in delightfully by Lahm, and was denied again moments later by Sommer. The Pole looked a little flat for large periods by his standards and was replaced by Ribery.
Substitutes:
MF Sebastian Rode, 6 -- His second straight substitute appearance, replacing Alonso in the 66th minute as Bayern's chased the game to no avail.
MF Franck Ribery, NR -- Ribery came on for Lewandowski in the 75th minute. His consolation goal on his reappearance after nearly nine months (269 days) out at least gave Bayern some solace on a disappointing day.