Borussia Monchengladbach 1-2 Bayern Munich: Bundesliga champions leave it late as Mathys Tel heads winner

Mathys Tel headed a late winner and in-form Leroy Sane struck again as Bayern Munich came from behind to maintain their 100% start to the Bundesliga season with a 2-1 victory at Borussia Monchengladbach.

Bayern dominated the majority of the first period but struggled to carve out clear-cut openings.

Gladbach sat deep and stifled the visitors’ patient attacks but eventually began to push forward, with Ko Itakura heading home a well-worked set piece on the half hour.

Thomas Tuchel’s men looked rattled against their Angstgegner (bogey side) but did almost level prior to the break when Sane’s fine run ended with a shot clipping the crossbar.

The visitors upped the tempo following the interval and deservedly equalised when Sane converted Joshua Kimmich’s delicious pass to net his third goal in as many matches.

The reigning champion looked the more likely to nick it in the latter stages of the contest but substitute Serge Gnabry’s header was magnificently stopped by Moritz Nicolas, while Harry Kane was a peripheral figure.

It seemed like honours would be even until substitute Tel nodded in a right-wing corner three minutes from time.

The result leaves Bayern in second spot, behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen on goal difference with the sides set to meet at the Allianz Arena in their next match following the international break.

Winless Gladbach are down in 15th place but will hope to record their first victory of the campaign when they face rock-bottom Darmstadt.

The Bavarians were hoping to bolster their squad in the final few days of the transfer window, but came up short as they missed out on Fulham’s Palhinha and allowed the likes of Benjamin Pavard and Ryan Gravenberch to depart. The Bundesliga champions had already allowed a large number of squad players to depart this summer, while incomings have not been as frequent.

As a result, the mood was not as positive amongst supporters as they would have been hoped and it could have turned sour heading into the international break as their bogey team threatened to make it six matches unbeaten against the Bavarians.

However, the German champions moved up a couple of gears in the second half and deservedly clinched a win that will inspire some optimism and whet the appetite for a mouthwatering top-of-the-table clash in a couple of weeks.

The ‘keeper enjoyed an excellent evening. He may not have ended up on the winning side, but he did threaten to lead his side to a surprise victory with some excellent saves throughout.

GLADBACH: Nicolas 8, Reitz 7, Itakura 8, Friedrich 8, Wober 7, Scally 7, Weigl 7, Ngoumou 7, Neuhaus 7, Plea 7, Cvancara 7. Subs: Jordan 6, Jantschke 6, Ullrich 6, Honorat n/a, Elvedi n/a.

BAYERN: Ulreich 6, Mazraoui 6, Davies 7, Upamecano 7, Minjae 7, Goretzka 7, Kimmich 8, Muller 7, Sane 8, Coman 7, Kane 6. Subs: Laimer 6, Gnabry 6, Choupo-Moting 6, Tel n/a.

26’ – BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH CHANCE! Marvin Friedrich climbs well to head a devilish left-wing free kick against the crossbar.

30’ – GOAL! – Gladbach 1-0 Bayern. Ko Itakura loops a header into the far corner after meeting a flick-on from a right-wing corner.

32’ – BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH CHANCE! Ulreich makes a smart save low to his left to keep out Weigl’s low strike after Gladbach caught Bayern cold at another set piece.

39’ – BAYERN MUNICH CHANCE! Sane takes a pass on the burst and completely blows Wober away, but his rising shot is flicked on to the crossbar by Moritz Nicolas.

54’ – BAYERN MUNICH CHANCE! Muller’s header is flicked off the line by Itakura after Coman’s fast feet and cross had put Nicolas in trouble.

58’ – GOAL! – Gladbach 1-1 Bayern. Sane chests down Kimmich’s exquisite pass and miscues it beyond the ‘keeper but into the back of the net.

70’ – BAYERN MUNICH CHANCE! Nicolas pulls off a stunning stop to keep out a header from Gnabry, who almost scores within seconds of taking to the pitch.

87’ – GOAL! – Gladbach 1-2 Bayern. Tel thumps home a header from a right-wing corner. That will surely be the winner.

• Gladbach have lost their first two home games of a Bundesliga season for only the third time (after 1986/87 and 2015/16).
• Bayern recorded a first win against Gladbach in six meetings.
• Sane has been directly involved in the opening goal in all three Bundesliga matches of Bayern so far this season – and has netted three in three.
• Tel has scored six of his past seven Bundesliga goals as a substitute.
• Bayern conceded a Bundesliga goal in the first half of a match under Thomas Tuchel for the first time in the coach’s 12th game in charge.