Bayern waste two-goal lead in shock loss to Bochum; Leverkusen fail to capitalise after Bremen loss

MUNICH: Bundesliga leader Bayern Munich wasted a two-goal lead in front of a home crowd to slump to a 3-2 loss to visitor VfL Bochum in the Bundesliga on Saturday in a disastrous dress rehearsal ahead of next week’s Champions League return leg against Bayer Leverkusen. The Bavarians, who beat Leverkusen 3-0 in the first leg of their Round of 16 on Wednesday, looked to be cruising to a comfortable win after Raphael Guerreiro struck twice in 14 minutes to put them 2-0 up by the 28th minute.

Bochum, however, cut the deficit three minutes later, with Jakov Medic drilling in.

Things got worse for Bayern when Joao Palhinha was sent off with a red card two minutes before the break after a rough tackle and Bochum made the extra man count when Ibrahima Sissoko headed in a 51st-minute equaliser.

The visitor completed its stunning comeback in the 71st when Matus Bero slipped into the box and beat Bayern keeper Jonas Urbig.

Bayern is in top spot on 61 points and remain eight points clear of second-placed Bayer Leverkusen.

Bayer Leverkusen suffered a shock 2-0 home loss to Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga on Saturday to miss its chance to close in on leaders Bayern Munich.

Visitor Werder, which had lost its previous five matches, took a surprise seventh-minute lead with Romano Schmid slotting in at the far post after a Leverkusen defensive error.

To make matters worse for Xabi Alonso’s team, who host Bayern in the return leg on Tuesday, attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz suffered an ankle injury in the 54th minute and the Germany international had to be substituted.

Despite some late pressure, but only a handful of chances, Leverkusen could not find the equaliser and it was Werder who scored again, in stoppage time with Justin Njinmah. Agencies

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