Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich said his side must question their mentality after they collapsed to a shocking 4-2 defeat at Bundesliga minnows Bochum ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Red Bull Salzburg. Bayern conceded four goals in a Bundesliga game for the first half since 1975, as newly promoted Bochum headed for a stunning victory, leaving the eternal champions stunned. “This was our worst performance of the season. We have to ask ourselves if this is the mentality that Bayern Munich embodies,” a dejected Kimmich told Sky.
“Fortunately, this time it happened in a Bundesliga game, but on Wednesday we have a Champions League game,” he added.
Bayern hadn’t lost to Bochum before this game since 2004, beating them 7-0 when the two teams last met in September.
When Robert Lewandowski bagged the opener for Bayern in nine minutes, it looked like it was going to be a normal afternoon for the eternal champions.
But Bochum quickly equalized through Christopher Antwi-Adjei, before taking control 10 minutes before half time.
Juergen Locadia gave the hosts the lead from the penalty spot after a handball from Dayot Upamecano, and a restless Bayern sank under pressure.
Cristian Gamboa blasted the ball from the edge of the area into the top corner two minutes later, before Holtmann put in another brilliant long-distance attempt just before half-time.
Lewandowski conceded a goal in the second half, but it was too little for Bayern to avoid a fourth league defeat of the season.
After a week in which German football discussed the idea of a new play-off format to combat Bayern’s ruthless dominance, newly promoted Bochum brought out a ruthless reminder that the champions are not unbeatable.
Still, Bayern remain clearly nine points at the top of the rankings tonight, ahead of Borussia Dortmund’s trip to Union Berlin on Sunday.
Fuerth grabs rare win
Elsewhere, struggling giants Wolfsburg and Borussia Mönchengladbach both pulled out of the relegation zone with timely wins.
Wolfsburg defeated former coach Oliver Glasner with a 2-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt, a Max Kruse penalty and a late goal from Dodi Lukebakio, giving them a second consecutive win.
Manu Kone and Jonas Hofmann gave Gladbach a comfortable lead, before Iago withdrew a goal for fellow fighters Augsburg.
Ramy Bensebaini recovered the two-goal lead before Alfred Finnbogason scored a late consolation goal.
Bottom club Greuther Fuerth gave themselves hope in the relegation battle with only their third win of the season against Hertha Berlin.
promoted
Branimir Hrgota opened the scoring after just 27 seconds and doubled the lead with a penalty in the second half before Hertha’s Linus Gechter scored his first Bundesliga goal late in the day.
Freiburg jumped Union Berlin to sixth place with a 1-1 draw at home to Mainz, with substitute Nils Petersen nullifying Alexander Hack’s opening game in the first half.
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