Off-colour Reds fall to clinical Hertha

FC Bayern lost 2-0 away to Hertha Berlin on Friday evening. Vedad Ibisevic converted a penalty after 20 minutes, Ondrej Duda doubling the hosts' lead with the half-time whistle imminent. Bayern were dominant in the second half but lacked the cutting edge. The result means Bayern have 13 points from six matches, equal on points with Hertha. In light of the current phase of midweek matches, the German record champions have opportunities galore to return to winning ways. Thy will be back in action on Tuesday, when they entertain Ajax in the Champions League before taking on Borussia Mönchengladbach next Saturday.

The Bavarians started with Manuel Neuer in goal and Joshua Kimmich, Niklas Süle, Jérôme Boateng and David Alaba in a back four. Thiago, James and Renato Sanches featured in midfield, with Arjen Robben and Franck Ribéry starting out wide, looking to serve hitman Robert Lewandowski. Thomas Müller, Serge Gnabry and Sandro Wagner took over from Robben, Sanches and James after half-time.

Capital blues

The 74,649 capacity crowd at Berlin's Olympic Stadium saw an entertaining first half with Bayern in the driving seat. Boateng rose high to connect to a corner, seeing his fine header from 12 yards sailing inches wide before the Bayern defender upended Salomon Kalou in the Bayern box, Ibisevic crashing home from the spot.

The Bavarians went looking for a reply but failed to create clear-cut chances at first. An Alaba corner found Robben shortly before half-time, but the Dutchman fired over the bar. Thiago saw an effort blocked, but Hertha soon doubled the lead on the break, Duda hammering the ball into the roof of the net from eight yards.

Nothing doing

The men from the capital were content to sit on their lead after the interval, with Bayern on the front foot. Thiago saw his header scrambled off the line before Alaba miscued a belter. Hertha netminder Thomas Kraft only just beat Lewandowski and sub Gnabry to the ball following a corner, Alaba firing a free-kick over the bar.

Kraft proved equal to a Wagner header before Gnabry fired wide, but Bayern failed to reward themselves for their pressure, and match official Marco Fritz blew for full-time.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen