Monday November 25, 2024

Bayern, Dortmund drop points in dramatic Bundesliga matchday

Published : 15 Apr 2023, 23:14

  By Nathalia Araújo, dpa
15 April 2023, Bavaria, Munich: Hoffenheim players with coach Pellegrino Matarazzo after the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim at Allianz Arena. Photo: Sven Hoppe/dpa.

Bayern Munich still top the Bundesliga despite being held to a 1-1 draw with Hoffenheim on Saturday, and after 10-man VfB Stuttgart came from behind to claim a dramatic 3-3 draw with second-placed Borussia Dortmund.

Dortmund were still leading their game at lowly Stuttgart 2-0, when Andrej Kramarić's free-kick in the 71st minute cancelled out Benjamin Pavard's first-half opener for the Bavarians in Munich.

But Dortmund, who took the lead with goals from Sébastien Haller and Donyell Malen, couldn't hold Stuttgart, who were playing with 10 men since Konstantinos Mavropanos was sent-off before the break, and were stunned when Stuttgart managed to pull one back with Tanguy Coulibaly and find a late equalizer thanks to Josha Vagnoman.

The game seemed put to bed when Dortmund midfielder Giovanni Reyna found the net in the third minute of stoppage time, but Stuttgart had the final say with a last-gasp effort from Silas Katompa Mvumpa.

Bayern had a dominant first half, but only managed to score once. The ball fell to Kinglsey Coman after the Hoffenheim defence cleared a corner and the French winger found Pavard, who then hit the net from close range in the 17th.

But Hoffenheim kept getting better and better after the break and deservedly claimed the equalizer with a free-kick from Kramarić in the 71st. Pavard thought he got a quick response and a brace just two minutes later, but the goal was ruled offside.

"I thought we were prepared, that we would play with anger. That was not the case, it was bad! Too slow, too emotionless, not dogged. We need a different spirit quickly," Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel said.

Midfielder Thomas Müller said they were "shocked by our performance," while defender Matthijs de Ligt added: "The game against Manchester City was physically and mentally difficult for us, but that can't be an excuse."

On Wednesday, Bayern have a difficult task in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-finals against City after a 3-0 defeat in the first game.

"It's completely separate from today," Joshua Kimmich said. "Against Man City, everyone knows that we need a completely different performance. We all know we can do that, but we have to show it on the pitch every three days, not every two weeks."

In Stuttgart, Haller scored his fourth goal in 13 games since recovering from testicular cancer to break the deadlock for Dortmund in the 26th and Donyell Malen doubled their lead in the 33rd.

Dortmund's task seemed to have gotten a bit easier once Mavropanos saw a red card shortly before the break. But after they had a goal disallowed by video review, Stuttgart pulled one back with Coulibaly in the 78th.

Stuttgart's home stadium was euphoric when Vagnoman swept in from close range for the equalizer, just to be hit by a wave of disappointment when Reyna seemed to seal the win for Dortmund.

But the home fans had something to celebrate after all once Katompa Mvumpa lashed the ball past keeper Gregor Kobel to claim a point for his side.

“Conceding again after the equalizer was brutal. It says a huge amount about the team that they then came back again. The atmosphere with our fans was equally incredible,” coach Sebastian Hoeneß said.

Bayern lead the Bundesliga with 59 points, while Dortmund are still two points behind after they missed a chance to level things up in the standings.

"There are reasons why we haven't managed to be at the top in the last 10 years," Terzic said. Dortmund's last league title came in 2012. Since then, Bayern have claimed a record 10 consecutive trophies.

"Very unnecessary, very stupid," Terzic said about the setback at Stuttgart, but stressed "there is still a lot worth fighting for."

Elsewhere, RB Leipzig got a scare when Arne Maier broke the deadlock for Augsburg in the fifth minute, but Kevin Kampl provided a quick equalizer just five minutes later and Timo Werner completed a brace to give Leipzig the lead. Rubin Vargas pulled one back for Augsburg late in the game but they had to settle for a 3-2 defeat.

Eintracht Frankfurt rescued a point thanks to a late equalizer by Randal Kolo Muani in the 1-1 against Borussia Mönchengladbach, but their worrying run of seven Bundesliga matches without a win is not extended to seven.

Cologne, meanwhile, played out a 1-1 draw with Mainz.

On Sunday, Freiburg visit Werder Bremen, Union Berlin host Bochum while Wolfsburg welcome Bayer Leverkusen.