BERLIN – Champions Bayern Munich find themselves in the unusual
position of being seventh in the Bundesliga after their 2-1 defeat at
Borussia Moenchengladbach.
After a second successive loss, Bayern are out of the European
qualifying places, seven points adrift of leaders Gladbach and with
no clear position on a long-term coaching solution.
After starting with four wins following the departure of Niko Kovac,
Hansi Flick as caretaker coach had been given a vote of confidence by
the management at least until the winter break and possibly until the
end of the season.
Flick has now seen his side lose twice in games against Bayer
Leverkusen and Moenchengladbach which on chances created they should
perhaps have won.
Ivan Perisic put Bayern ahead after half-time in Saturday's big game,
but Gladbach's Ramy Bensebaini levelled the scores on the hour and
converted a penalty in the closing stages.
Table time 😋 pic.twitter.com/ARIEFarCYv
— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) December 7, 2019
"In the first half we played some good football and created a lot of
chances so it's annoying that we didn't take any of them," Flick
said.
"The team has the quality to get plenty of goals, but at the moment
we're not showing it. Normally, we'd have settled a game like this
much earlier, but we let Gladbach back in to the game."
Bayern next face Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League, where
they have already qualified for the last 16, before greeting Werder
Bremen next weekend in the league.
Despite the gap which has opened up to the top, Bayern are avoiding
any signs of panic, and Flick for now still has the backing of the
club bosses.
"We saw in the first half that everything was going well. No, nothing
has changed," sports director Hasan Salihamidzic said when asked
about Flick's future.
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/bensebainiRams?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bensebainiRamsbeats Neuer from the spot in injury time 👀
(92') #BMGFCB2-1 pic.twitter.com/1G8k7Yg0Ru
— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN)
Bayern can also look at last season when they were nine points behind
Borussia Dortmund at one stage and six points adrift at the winter
break before going on to win their seventh successive Bundesliga
title.
However defender Joshua Kimmich said it could be more difficult this
season to make up ground.
"I would say we are playing better football than a year ago in
winter," he said.
"Is the situation comparable? This season there are more teams ahead
of us than last season. Even though we are only – in quotes – seven
points behind it will be much harder this season."
Gladbach now have 31 points from 14 games, one ahead of RB Leipzig,
who defeated Hoffenheim 3-1 for a fifth straight league win, and five
up on Borussia Dortmund, who thrashed Fortuna Dusseldorf 5-0.
4️⃣ goals in the first half, 1️⃣2️⃣ in the second
— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) December 7, 2019
What an afternoon 😅 pic.twitter.com/6ZYAwyRMTd
It was a 10th victory in the league for Gladbach and the sixth in a
row in front of home fans, who are now dreaming of a first title
since 1977.
"This result shows that we're on the right track and that we can
concentrate on our own game for 90 minutes," coach Marco Rose said.
"In future though, we'll have to be as brave as we were in the second
half of this game right from the off. We have to bring back a little
consistency."
Gladbach now turn their attention to the Europa League on Thursday
where a win or draw at home to Istanbul Basaksehir will ensure
progress, before a trip to Wolfsburg in the league on Sunday.
Leipzig, with Germany striker Timo Werner scoring for a fifth
consecutive league game, visit Lyon in the Champions League, where
they have a last 16 place already certain, and then travel to
Dusseldorf in the league.