BERLIN, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Borussia Monchengladbach returned to winning ways after securing a 3-2 victory over decimated German giants Bayern Munich, who suffered a setback in the title race in the 21st round on Saturday.
The Foals grabbed a fairytale start on home soil as Bayern defender Dayot Upamecano was sent off in the eighth minutes following a last-man foul to Alassane Plea at the edge of the box. Former Monchengladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer was on guard and defused the subsequent free kick from Lars Stindl.
Stindl remained in the thick of things and broke the deadlock in the 13th minute when Jonas Hofmann's low corner allowed Gladbach's team captain to slot home from central position.
Stindl should have added another goal to the scoreboard, but the midfielder couldn't beat Sommer from promising position in the 24th minute.
Bayern stunned Monchengladbach with an equalizer out of the blue in the 35th minute when Alphonso Davies raced down the left wing before finding Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, who tapped home from 11 meters.
Ten-man Bayern dominated possession after the restart and came close through Joshua Kimmich, whose long-range hammer missed the target just wide with 49 minutes gone.
It was the Borussia though who took the 2-1 lead with their first chance of the second half as Plea's good build-up work allowed Hofmann to beat Sommer in the 55th minute.
The hosts controlled the proceeding and put the victory beyond doubt in the 84th minute when joker Marcus Thuram finished off Hofmann's square pass, making it 3-1.
Bayern pressed forward in the closing stages but for all that Mathys Tel's last-gasp goal came too late.
"We started very well but the red card and the quick goal made it difficult for us," said Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann.
"We were brave but wasteful. We played it too wild, but the boys did an extraordinary job," commented Monchengladbach coach Daniel Farke.
Elsewhere, Freiburg snatched its second straight victory as goals form Michael Gregoritsch and Lucas Holer downed Bochum 2-0. Leipzig ended their winless run after easing 3-0 past hapless Wolfsburg. Struggling Stuttgart reaped a 3-0 victory and inflicted Cologne the first loss in 2023 whereas Eintracht Frankfurt beat Werder Bremen 2-0. ■
