Ausgburg took a deserved lead through Sasha Molders, who netted FCA's first goal against Bayern since Haijme Hosogai in 2011. They kept their first clean sheet in 2014 and Bayern looked a shadow of their former selves as they slipped to their first defeat in fifty-four games.
Augsburg went into the game without a win in their last four games, but Pep Guardiola was quick to praise Weinzierl's work. When asked about his opposite number and his chances of managing a top side, the Spaniard had this to say, "I believe so. He is young, he has done an outstanding job. He is one of the best coaches in the Bundesliga. His team is aggressive and plays forward very quickly." The home side were depleted ahead of the game, with André Hahn, Tobias Werner, Ragnar Klavan, Ji-Dong Won and Jan Moravek all out. FCA hadn't beaten Bayern in over fifty-two years and with having five of their squad out to face the best team in the world was not ideal, but things were about to change.
Bayern on the other hand were looking to 'bounce-back' against Augsburg, after two consecutive draws. The fact that the Bavarians are disappointed with two stalemates, against Manchester United and Hoffenheim, is the epitome of the side's expectations. Back-up 'keeper Tom Starke was ruled out for the rest of the season before the game, he tore a ligament in his elbow in final training and is set to undergo surgery today. Along with Starke's injury; Franck Ribéry, Philip Lahm and Arjen Robben were not risked in the SGL Arena, ahead of their quarter-final second leg on Wednesday. This meant Bayern handed full debuts to Ylli Sallahi and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg.
With just two minutes gone, it was the hosts that started the game off strongest. Matthias Ostrzolek stung the palms of Manuel Neuer, with Germany's number one doing well to turn it round the post. Bayern gradually found their flow in the opening ten minutes, with Xherdan Shaqiri dragging their first chance wide of Marwin Hitz' post. It was clear to see that Augsburg were going for a win against a 'weakened' Bayern side and Sasha Mölders was inches from connecting with Raphael Holzhauser's cross, as Neuer came to the rescue and in a similar situation soon afterwards.
Bayern were struggling to break down their opposition. Neuer had to be alert again to deny Halil Altintop, denying the Turk in a one-on-one situation. FCA then went ahead, in the thirty-first minute, with a goal that had been coming from the very start. Daniel Baier robbed Mitchell Weiser out wide, he slipped in Mölders who made no mistake in smashing the ball into the roof of the net as Neuer could do nothing this time. It was only his second of the season, but you wouldn't have been mistake for taking that as Mölders' twenty-second as he almost ripped the net open.
Mario Götze came on at half-time for Xherdan Shaqiri, as Guardiola looked to maintain Bayern's incredible unbeaten run. The change almost had the visitors level immediately, as young Sallahi crossed for Mario Mandzkuic, but the big Croat sent his header just wide. Javi Martinez followed suit and his header also went close, but to no avail. David Alaba came on soon after, but Neuer had to be called into action again to deny Esswein a goal and Augsburg a second. Götze almost had the desired effect, but his run through on goal was halted by a sprawling Hitz.
It was clear Guardiola wanted a change to proceedings and with Thomas Müller's introduction to the game for Claudio Pizarro, meant Bayern had used all their subs after just sixty two minutes. With the changes, Bayern looked far more comfortable and the tired challenges from Augsburg came, with Jeong-Ho Hong and Matthias Ostzrolek picking up bookings. They went even closer to getting the equaliser when Alaba drove Mandzukic's lay-off onto the inside of the post, unfortunately for Bayern they could only look on as the ball bounced to safety. Dominik Reinhardt came on to solidify things with Hong on a yellow card, Augsburg defence continued to hold strong. Müller and Götze both went close. Hitz came out well to deny Müller with a great save, with the latter shooting just wide. Raul Bobadilla replaced the goal-scorer Molders, as van Buyten went into the book, with Bayern visibly frustrated. The sub almost had the final say, but his shot smacked against the post.
Augsburg's season just gets that bit better, an amazing win for all concerned with the club and they deserved it on effort alone. Bayern's first defeat in fifty-four games came as a surprise, despite the rotation by Pep Guardiola. Augsburg move onto forty-two points and keep an unrealistic European dream within reach. Bayern's fate had been sealed long ago, but a blow to their confidence ahead of Wednesday's game was not needed.
Line-ups:
Augsburg: Hitz; Verhagh, Callsen-Bracker, Hong (Reinhardt 76'), Ostzrolek; Baier; Esswein, Altintop, Kohr, Holzhauser (Philip 54'); Mölders (Bobadilla 83'). (4-1-4-1)
Bayern: Neuer; Wesier, van Buyten, Martinez, Sallahi (Alaba 51'); Schweinsteiger, Højbjerg; Kroos, Pizarro (Müller 62'), Shaqiri (Götze 46'); Mandzukic. (4-2-3-1)