Borussia Moenchengladbach’s Raffael (left) celebrates his goal with teammates during their Bundesliga match against Bayern Munich in Munich. (Reuters)

 

DPA/Berlin


Raffael got both goals and Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer blundered as Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich crashed 2-0 against Borussia Moenchengladbach for their first home defeat of the season.
Neuer let a drop volley from Raffael slip through his fingers in the 30th, and Raffael wrapped up matters in the 72nd against a harmless Bayern team that failed to create a single serious chance.
History repeated itself as Neuer had also made a mistake when Moenchengladbach last won in Munich in the 2011-12 season-opener. Bayern suffered their second season defeat, the first in late January 4-1 at second-placed Wolfsburg, and lost for the first time at home since late in the past season, 3-0 against Dortmund when they had a lready wrapped up the title.
But Munich still command the standings with 64 points, 10 ahead of Wolfsburg who drew 1-1 at 14th-placed Mainz in the other yesterday’s game.  Moenchengladbach underlined their Champions League ambitions in third with 47 points, and Leverkusen have 45. Munich dominated possession against Moenchengladbach but created no danger. To make things worse winger Arjen Robben had to leave in the 24th with what appeared to be a lower back injury, as Thomas Mueller took his place.
Moenchengladbach took the lead on the half hour mark. Patrick Herrmann crossed from the right wing for Raffael at the edge of the area, the Brazilians’ low drop volley went straight at Neuer but the Germany goalkeeper let it slip through his hands across the line.
Bastian Schwinsteiger had only a minor chance before the break and Munich failed to improve after intermission against well-organized visitors who were lurking for counters.
They were almost successful in the 70th as Neuer barely managed to deflect Andre Hahn’s tight-angle blast against the post from where it went back into play.
The next counterattack came two minutes later and this time around Raffael fired home from 10m off Chrisoph Kramer with Neuer not fully convincing again.  
Results
Mainz 05 1 (Bungert 7) VfL Wolfsburg 1 (Luiz Gustavo 61)
Bayern Munich 0 Borussia
Moenchengladbach 2 (Raffael 30, 77)