Augsburg inflicted a first defeat of the season on FC Bayern Munich, and became the first team to stop the record champions from scoring in 87 Bundesliga matches.
Augsburg beat FC Bayern at home for the second time on the spin. It was their first home win of the season.
FC Bayern are without a win in four Bundesliga matches for the first time since 2001.
FC Bayern had beaten FC Barcelona 2-0 in the UEFA Champions League in midweek, but that didn’t stop Augsburg sticking it to the record champions in the Bavarian derby. Florian Niederlechner set the tone for a furious first half with a breakaway shot into the ground that warmed the palms of Manuel Neuer. Sadio Mane and Leroy Mane had quick-fire openings at the other end, but Rafal Gikiewicz was equal to them. Sane then steered an Alphonso Davies cross narrowly wide of the far post, before Niederlechner returned fire with a fierce strike that Neuer could only parry. The chances in full flow, Jamal Musiala placed a shot from inside the box too close to Gikiewicz. Robert Bauer sent a free header over soon after, before putting in a goal-saving challenge to stop Leon Goretzka applying the finishing touch to Musiala’s flicked cross from the left.
Goretzka and Sadio Mane tried their luck from distance early in the second half, but the first real opportunity went the way of Augsburg. The high press forced Neuer into a hurried clearance, picked up by Elvis Rexhbecaj. Despite having at least three teammates to aim for as Bayern scrambled to get back, he completely overhit his attempted cross. Bayern didn’t heed the warning. Iago directed a free-kick from deep towards the unmarked Mergim Berisha, who calmly side-footed home from 10 yards to give the hosts the lead.
Berisha has scored against Bayern twice before – for Red Bull Salzburg in the Champions League.
Thomas Muller tried to redress the balance, but his low shot was turned away by Gikiewicz. The Augsburg No.1 pulled off an even better save to thwart Sane one-on-one, as well as the ensuing attempted clearance that was redirected goalwards somewhat unknowingly by substitute Serge Gnabry. Neuer went up for a late corner for an increasingly desperate Bayern, but his goal-bound header was beaten away by Gikiewicz as FC Bayern, dropping to fourth in the table, failed to win for the fourth league game in a row.
Neuer equalled Sepp Maier’s number of Bundesliga appearances (473).
Mane has not scored in the Bundesliga since netting a brace in Bochum on Matchday 3.
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Bundesliga FC Bayern Augsburg Football Sports Kolkata