Bayern Munich's title celebrations will have to wait another week. They took an early fifth minute lead against Borussia Mönchengladbach. This gave Bayern confidence as the hosts looked to cruise the rest of the way. Mönchengladbach equalized though, in the 72nd minute, to level the match at one as the two shared the spoils.

Hosts score early

Bayern Munich got off on the right foot in just the fifth minute. Xabi Alonso swung in a cross towards the middle from corner. The delivery reached the head of Thomas Müller, who headed the ball downwards. Juan Bernat raced out to try to help the header move along, but the Spaniard missed it as it bounced past Yann Sommer

Minutes later, Gladbach managed a shot on target. Raffael hit a long ball towards André Hahn. Hahn redirected the ball forward with his head, but Manuel Neuer did well to parry the header wide of the goal. On the ensuing corner, which Gladbach took short, the ball moved around the edge of the box. Mahmoud Dahoud received a pass and ripped a shot from beyond the 18 over the crossbar. 

Three minutes after the half hour mark, Müller took a chance from distance. But his right footed effort fell into the arms of a much relieved Sommer. In the 42nd minute, Bayern had a half-chance turned out for a corner kick. Kingsly Coman whipped a dangerous ball from the top left corner of the box towards the far post. Müller was waiting in the area, but an alert Oscar Wendt put the cross out of harms way. 

In the beginning parts of the second half, the visitors grew in confidence. They hit Bayern on the counter in the 56th minute, but Granit Xhaka's attempt went wide of the near post. Then, two minutes later, Ibrahima Traoré had his attempt get blocked. Hahn's shot, in the 69th minute, missed the target as well. 

Gladbach's pressure pays off

But the pressure had been mounting on the Bayern's defense and in the 72nd minute, the back line cracked. A through ball from Lars Stindl split Medhi Benatia and Serdar Tasci found the run of André Hahn. The 25-year-old continued his run before placing an excellent shot past Manuel Neuer. This was the goal that Gladbach had been searching for and they thoroughly deserved it too. 

To Bayern's credit, they tried searching for the match winning goal. If they had found it, Pep Guardiola and company would have been able to lift the Bundesliga title. 

Sebastian Rode, in the 75th minute, threaded a pass to Bernat down the left flank. The young Spaniard's shot though, was never hitting the target as it soared above the fame of the goal. Then, Thiago Alcántara missed his shot. Douglas Costa also had a go, in the 80th, hitting an audacious attempt straight into the arms of Sommer. 

Finally, in with three minutes remaining, Thomas Müller had the matches last attempt. Off of a cross from Bernat, Müller's header found the arms of Sommer once more. 

VAVEL Logo
About the author