Bayern remounted at home by'Augsburg: goodbye unbeaten streak, Urbig’s duck also weighs in
Bayern’s very long unbeaten streak in the Bundesliga was interrupted Saturday in the most unexpected way: the Bavarians lost 2-1 at the Allianz Arena against Augsburg, a club fighting for salvation, which was able to come back in the final after the initial disadvantage. What condemned the Bavarians was not only an overall opaque performance, but also a few too many mistakes such as that of goalkeeper Jonas Urbig, deployed today in place of Manuel Neuer and the negative protagonist on Arthur Chaves’ equalizing goal.
And to say that Bayern had started off on the right foot: Ito swooped in on Olise’s corner and signed the 1-0 at the 23′ but in fact the goal of the lead represented only the’illusion of an easy game. Augsburg in fact grew, took the field minute by minute and in the second half turned everything upside down. On 75′ Urbig′ s duck, who completely misses his exit on a corner, allows Chaves to score by header. Six minutes later, however, Massengo completed the comeback on an assist from Giannoulis, punishing a slow team unable to react with lucidity.
Kompany paid with the home defeat the heavy turnover between the two Champions League fixtures: out went Neuer and Kimmich, in came Urbig and Goretzka, with Davies adapted to the right in the absence of other full-backs. However, the team suffered in balance and fluidity, with Kane often isolated, Olise intermittent and Diaz wasteful. Augsburg, on the other hand, played the match with ferocity, reacting to Bayern’s attempt to at least find the equalizer and also taking advantage of a bit of luck, seeing the post hit by Dahmen after Bischof’s deflection.
Bayern still remains first in the Bundesliga with 50 points from 19 matches, but the knockout weighs heavily because it interrupts a run of useful results that had lasted since March and reopens questions about defensive solidity and rotation management. There will be an immediate chance for a rematch against PSV on Wednesday in the Champions League.
For Augsburg, on the other hand, it is the most prestigious win of the season, reinvigorating a standings that before today had brought the red-and-whites just 16 points in 18 games. The last success before the one against Bayern had come with another German big name, Bayer Leverkusen, and dated back to last Dec. 6 (2-0 at WWK Arena).
