Bayern Munich failed to close the gap on Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen as the German champions slipped to a third straight defeat to pile the pressure on manager Thomas Tuchel.
Bayern fell to a shock 3-2 defeat at Bochum on Sunday night to remain eight points behind Leverkusen, who beat the German giants 3-0 last weekend to take control of the title race and continue their impressive season under Xabi Alonso.
Tuchel's side were also beaten 1-0 by Lazio in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie on Wednesday, with the German manager claiming England captain Harry Kane was “unhappy” with his role in the previous two defeats. the game.
Harry Kane reacts as Bayern fail to close the gap on leaders Leverkusen
(Getty Images)
Bayern made the better start against Bochum and took the lead in the 15th minute through Jamal Musiala. But the match was abandoned in the 22nd minute as tennis balls were thrown onto the pitch in a fan protest. Fans across Germany are protesting against a controversial plan to sell a stake in Bundesliga media rights to a private equity firm.
Bochum took the lead as soon as the match resumed, equalizing in the 38th minute through Japan striker Takuma Asano before Keven Schlotterbeck scored from a corner just before the break. The match was stopped again in the second half as protests resumed, before Bayern defender Dayot Upamecano was sent off for the second game in a row, leaving the visitors with 10 men.
He gave Bochum a penalty and Kevin Stoeger slotted past Manuel Neuer to make it 3-1, meaning Kane's 25th goal of the Bundesliga season in stoppage time was little more than a consolation.
Bayern have won 11 Bundesliga titles in a row, but Leverkusen now have a great chance to become the first team since Borussia Dortmund in 2012 to win the German top flight. Bayern are also out of the German Cup and their opener defeat by Lazio means they face their first trophyless season since the 2011-12 campaign.
Bayern players face the away fans after the defeat in Bochum
(Getty Images)
However, Tuchel will remain in charge for next week's game against fifth-placed RB Leipzig, with club chief executive Jan-Christian Dreesen backing the former Chelsea boss after seeing Bayern slip away in back-to-back away games defeats. Bundesliga for the first time since 2015.
“I'm not a fan of monstrous statements of support for coaches,” Dreisen told reporters. “They usually sell out after a week. But that (the future of the coach) is not an issue we are dealing with at the moment. We have to focus on our next matches.
Midfielder Leon Goretzka described Bayern's run as a “never-ending horror film”.
“Everything is going against us at the moment,” said the Germany international. “We can sit here again and say we started well. But now you feel stupid to limit yourself to half an hour. In the end we tried everything, so you can't blame us.”
Elsewhere in Europe, LaLiga leaders Real Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw by neighbors Rayo Vallecano.
Los Blancos, without Jude Bellingham through injury, had taken an early lead through Joselu and looked set to go eight points clear of Girona, who play at Athletic Bilbao on Monday night.
However, a 27th-minute penalty from Raul de Tomas proved enough to earn Rayo a point in the derby in their first game under new manager Inigo Perez, with Real having Dani Carvajal sent off late on.
Milan missed the chance to go second in Serie A as they fell to a 4-2 defeat at neighbors Monza, finishing with 10 men after Luka Jovic was sent off.
After Monza goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio had to be substituted following a clash of heads with teammate Andrea Carboni, the hosts took the lead through Matteo Pessina's penalty and Dany Mota added a second just before half-time.
Jovic was sent off six minutes into the second half, his yellow card upgraded to red by VAR for a tackle on Armando Izzo.
Substitutes Olivier Giroud and Christian Pulisic then pulled the Rossoneri level – only for Warren Bondo to quickly put Monza back in front before on-loan striker Lorenzo Colombo added a fourth against his parent club.
In Ligue 1, Brest beat Marseille 1-0 with an 89th-minute goal from Pierre Lis-Meloux after striker Steve Meunier was sent off to move past second-placed Nice.
Includes report from PA
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