Bayern thrashed 'mercilessly' by Frankfurt for 1st loss of Bundesliga season
Find the biggest stories from across the soccer world by visiting our Top Soccer News section and subscribing to push notifications.
Bayern Munich suffered a jolt to their title defence, losing their first league game of the season 5-1 in Frankfurt and handing Bayer Leverkusen the chance to open a six-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga.
In a wet and wild contest in Frankfurt, the hosts raced into an extraordinary 3-0 first-half lead, with Omar Marmoush, Junior Dina Ebimbe, and Hugo Larsson scoring the goals as Dino Toppmoller's side outmuscled a timid Bayern.
Joshua Kimmich dragged Bayern back into the match just before half-time but French midfielder Ebimbe had other ideas, capping a scintillating counter-attack after a mistake by Dayot Upamecano to make it four.
Ansgar Knauff added a fifth to put the game out of reach for Thomas Tuchel's side to complete a memorable performance for Frankfurt, who became the first team to score five goals against Bayern in the first 60 minutes of a league game since Frankfurt themselves in 1975.
A stunned Tuchel said after the game that his side were punished by a Frankfurt team who were callous in front of goal.
"We didn't defend consistently and were punished mercilessly today," Tuchel told German broadcaster ARD.
"That's why this result is very difficult to digest on the scoreboard. We deserved to lose. Not 5-1, but we deserved to lose. That is the bottom line."
Leaders Bayer Leverkusen travel to third-place Stuttgart on Sunday on a weekend when six of the Bundesliga's top seven face each other.
HEADLINES
- Quintana gets 100th win as Mets blank Reds for 9th straight victory
- Cortes upset Yankees moved him to bullpen: 'I've been the workhorse'
- Dodgers' Hernández avoids major foot injury, could return by Tuesday
- Report: Mavs bring back vet Markieff Morris
- Braves' Merrifield fractures foot same week he was hit in head by pitch