Two late lapses cost Bayern dear in Rome on Tuesday evening, as Louis van Gaal’s side tossed away a 2-0 half-time lead and slipped to their first defeat in nine games. Despite the avoidable reverse, Munich’s first in the Champions League this term after four wins from their first four matches, results elsewhere mean the German champions have sealed top spot in their group.
The 45,000 crowd at the half-full Stadio Olimpico in Rome saw Bayern survive a couple of early scares, before easing into the driving seat and going in at half-time two goals up courtesy of a Mario Gomez brace. Marco Borriello pulled one back straight after the restart for the reenergised Italians, but reserve keeper Thomas Kraft produced some magnificent saves on his first-team debut to keep his side in the lead.
Roma’s persistence paid off in the end, Daniele de Rossi levelling ten minutes from time and local hero Francesco Totti winning the game from the spot three minutes later, the gloss very slightly coming off Kraft’s debut as his rash challenge handed the home side their penalty.
Despite the defeat, the Bavarians win Group E with 12 points from five matches, only three points clear of Roma but with the better head-to-head record. Third-placed Basel now visit the Allianz Arena to round off the group two weeks from now. The men from Munich return to league action against Eintracht Frankfurt this Saturday, 27 November.
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