BERLIN, Feb 19: Bayern Munich slumped to its third consecutive defeat on Sunday as Bochum came from behind to defeat the 11-time defending champion 3-2 in the Bundesliga.
It left Thomas Tuchel’s team eight points behind league leader Bayer Leverkusen with 12 rounds remaining and will increase doubts over the Bayern coach’s future after a midweek loss to Lazio in the Champions League and last weekend’s 3-0 defeat at Leverkusen.
“It feels like a horror film that just doesn’t end,” Bayern midfielder Leon Goretzka said. “Everything is going against us at the moment.”
Not even fans’ protests against an outside Bundesliga investor – which continued Sunday with remote-controlled model airplanes flown onto the field during Eintracht Frankfurt’s 3-3 draw with Freiburg and tennis balls interrupting Bayern’s game – will give Tuchel respite from the scrutiny that is sure to follow. “Today was a bit like Murphy’s Law. Anything that could go against us, anything that could go wrong, went wrong,” said Tuchel, who must now prepare for Leipzig’s visit next weekend.
Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen said Tuchel will “of course” be in charge for that match, but didn’t rule out making a change at a later stage.
Sunday’s games were just the latest subjected to delays and interruptions as supporters showed their opposition to the German league’s controversial plan to sell a stake in the Bundesliga’s media rights income to an outside investor.
They started after Jamal Musiala fired Bayern into an early lead. Bochum fans threw tennis balls onto the field forcing an early halt to play.
As soon as they were cleared, Bayern supporters flung more from their section, leading referee Daniel Schlager to tell both teams to return to their locker rooms. The fans also chanted against the German football league (DFL) with an expletive.
Takuma Asano equalized in the 38th after playing a one-two with Anthony Losilla, and Keven Schlotterbeck put the home side in front with a header to a corner before the break.
More tennis balls followed in the second half, and Bayern’s struggles continued when the game resumed. Tuchel sent on Leroy Sané and new signing Bryan Zaragoza for the last half hour.But while Letsch remained on the sideline to urge on his team, Tuchel remained withdrawn on his bench.
It got worse for Bayern when Dayot Upamecano was penalized for a high arm against Schlotterbeck in the 76th. The French defender was shown his second yellow card and Kevin Stöger duly scored from the spot.
Bochum ’keeper Manuel Riemann made a fine save to deny Sané before fellow substitute Mathys Tel set up Harry Kane for what proved Bayern’s consolation in the 87th. (PTI)
