Fresh in the knowledge that VfL Wolfsburg had dropped two points at the Coface Arena against Mainz, Pep Guardiola's side knew that a win would extend their lead at the top of the table to 12 points; as a third consecutive title looks ominous. die Roten welcomed back Arjen Robben and Xabi Alonso to the starting eleven following injury; the duo along with Holger Badstuber were the only changes to the side that defeated Werder Bremen 4-0 last week in the North of Germany. Robert Lewandowski continued up-front for the Bavarians; the Pole having scored three in his last two outings. Bayern have been in impervious form as of late, not dropping a point since a 1-1 draw with Schalke at the start of February, conceding a solitary two goals in the process.
Following Bayer Leverkusen's 1-0 victory against Schalke on Saturday afternoon, Lucien Favre knew that only a win would be enough to lift his Borussia Mönchengladbach side back into third position, as die Fohlenelf strive to return to the Champions League for the first time since 2012. With this in mind the Swiss coach fielded an attacking line-up at the Allianz Arena; with Raffael and André Hahn selected in a pair upfront. die Fohlenelf were also in good form and were unbeaten in four heading into the game in the Bavarian capital. 'Gladbach had frustrated Bayern in the previous meeting this campaign, earning a respectable 0-0 draw with Guardiola's side.
It didn't take long for die Roten to find their rhythm, Juan Bernat and Arjen Robben both testing Yann Sommer within the first five minutes. The visitors were pressing high, but without a real target man upfront they lacked any real potency with their forays into the Bayern half.
Bayern were being afforded a lot of room down either channel but the Mönchengladbach central defence pairing of Martin Stranzl and Álvaro Domínguez were dealing with the vast majority of eventual deliveries.
However, die Fohlenelf would grow into the game and began to frustrate Bayern, just as they had done in the return game at Borussia Park. Arjen Robben was becoming an isolated figure and was dropping in an attempt to find the ball. The Dutchman's game would soon be over, as he had to be replaced following an altercation with Tony Jantschke. Thomas Müller was the man that entered the field of play in-place of Robben.
The hosts were devoid of any attacking ideas and with their first effort of the match the travelling Fohlenelf would take the lead, completely against the run of play. A hopeful long-ball found itself at the feet of the on-rushing Patrick Herrmann who crossed for Raffael to hit first time. The Brazilian's rasping effort was too hard to handle for Manuel Neuer, as the ball squirmed out of the keepers hands and into the back of the net. The goal was only the twelfth die Roten had conceded in the league this campaign.
Lucien Favre's side continued to frustrate the hosts and save for David Alaba deflected effort, die Roten didn't look likely to level the scores. 'Gladbach heading into the break one goal to the good.
die Fohlenelf continued to frustrate Bayern at the beginning of the second half and it'd be a long wait until the 68th minute when Bayern had their first real effort. Rafinha whipped in a ball from the right flank, which was met by Robert Lewandowski, but his effort hit Yann Sommer's crossbar. Even if the Pole's effort had dropped in the net it wouldn't have counted as the flag was rightly up for offside.
However the away side were a constant threat on the counter and after a superb switch of play from Martin Stranzl, André Hahn found himself bearing down upon Manuel Neuer; But the World Cup Winner made up for his earlier mistake and got down well to deny the former FC Augsburg man with the assistance of the upright.At the other end Bernat once again went close, but Sommer easily dealt with the Spaniards effort.
'Gladbach were once again set threw on Neuer's goal following some neat play from Patrick Herrmann. Christoph Kramer the man this time bearing down on goal, but the Leverkusen loanee got his head up and found Raffael who beat Neuer with a smart finish doubling die Fohlenelf's advantage.
Bayern came close late on threw Lewandowski, but it was the visitors who looked the more likely to extend their lead; Fabian Johnson and Oscar Wendt wasting two good opportunities, whilst Neuer did well to deny Max Kruse. But it wouldn't matter in the end as die Fohlenelf held on to secure a famous 2-0 victory.
The result see's die Roten fail to extend their lead at the top of the Bundesliga table to ten points, but it won't make any difference to the title race as the title is destined to be heading back to Bavaria. Next up for Pep Guardiola's side is a trip to Signal Iduna Park for the Klassiker against Borussia Dortmund. For Lucien Favre and Borussia Mönchengladbach the result propels the foals back into third place as the Champions League looks certain to be returning to Borussia Park; a trip to Hoffenheim is next up for them.