Bayern fall to Leverkusen in top match

FC Bayern lost 3-0 to Bayer Leverkusen in Saturday's top match in the Bundesliga. FCB loanee Josip Stanišić put the home side in front in the first half, with Alejandro Grimaldo doubling the lead after half-time and Jeremie Frimpong adding a third in injury time.

The Bavarians started with Manuel Neuer in goal and Dayot Upamecano, Eric Dier and Minjae Kim in a back three. Noussair Mazraoui, Aleksandar Pavlović, Leon Goretzka and Sacha Boey took up station in midfield, with Leroy Sané, Harry Kane and Jamal Musiala up front.

Trailing at half-time

Bayern enjoyed more of the ball at first, with Leverkusen very solid at the back. Amine Adli tested Neuer before Goretzka fired over at the other end. Neuer denied Adli, but Robert Andrich's low cross soon found Stanišić at the far post, the Bayern loanee tapping in from close range.

Neuer parried a Nathan Tella effort, and Florian Wirtz saw his follow-up blocked. Neuer denied Jonathan Tah before Mazraoui drew a save from Lukas Hrádecký as Bayern went looking for a reply, but it was tough going against the home side's rock-solid defence. Neuer saved again against Adli and Piero Hincapie flashed an effort over before Upamecano made a crucial block against Adli. Sané fired wide as Bayern went into the break a goal down.

No way through

Munich started brightly when play resumed but were hit again when Grimaldo raced clear after a one-two with Tella and beat Neuer. Musiala miscued before boss Thomas Tuchel brought on Joshua Kimmich and Thomas Müller for Upamecano and Pavlović in an effort to raise the momentum. Grimaldo tried to beat Neuer directly from a corner, but the FCB captain was alert.

Sané and Musiala had efforts blocked before Mathys Tel took over from Goretzka. A Musiala cross just evaded the sliding Müller at the far post. Further reinforcements came with Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Raphaël Guerreiro coming on for Musiala and Boey. Kimmich saw an effort saved as Leverkusen dropped deep in the closing stages. Frimpong struck the post from a counter but eventually added a third as the Dutchman found the empty net with Neuer up for a corner deep into added time.

The result means Bayern have 50 points from 21 matches, five short of Saturday's rivals. The Bavarians will be back in action on Wednesday when they travel to face Lazio in the Champions League.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen