Agonising defeat puts huge dent in title hopes

Bayern fell to an agonising and damaging defeat away to Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday night, surviving a torrid first half but producing a much improved second-half display, only to concede an unlucky goal and then miss the penalty which would surely have earned a deserved share of the points.

The 80,720 full house at Signal Iduna Park saw Jupp Heynckes’ side on the back foot for much of the first half, as the visitors struggled to throw off the shackles applied by the lively and energetic home side. David Alaba and Luiz Gustavo put in sterling defensive work, but FCB were still indebted to Maneul Neuer and the goal frame for keeping BVB at bay.

The second half was a very different story as Bayern, inspired and lifted by Franck Ribery, seized the initiative and began to create chances, but rght in the middle of the visitors’ best spell, Robert Lewandowski poked home the opener for the champions. Arjen Robben earned but missed a penalty in a frantic closing phase with shots off the goal frame at both ends, as FCB’s luck ran out and BVB’s held.

The result puts an end to Bayern’s run of nine wins in a row in all competitions, and means FCB remain second in the standings on 63 points from 30 matches, now six behind BVB with four games to play. There is no let up in the Bavarians’ packed programme, as FCB are at home to Mainz this Saturday, before Real Madrid visit Munich in the Champions League semi-final first leg just three days later on Tuesday 17 April.