Bayer Leverkusen players celebrate their 2-1 win over Bayern Munich (AP Photo)
Bayer Leverkusen beat Bayern Munich 2-1 as Borussia Dortmund continue to lead the Bundesliga standings
Argentina’s World Cup winner Exaquiel Palacios struck twice from the spot as Bayer Leverkusen blew the Bundesliga title race wide open with a 2-1 win over Bayern Munich on Sunday.
With a little help from VAR, Leverkusen came from behind to hand coach Xabi Alonso a famous win on his first reunion with former club Bayern and prevent the champions from regaining top spot.
“It is an incredible feeling. I am very proud of the way we played today,” said Alonso, who played for Bayern from 2014 to 2017.
Bayern are one point behind leaders Borussia Dortmund and the two sides are set to meet in the next round game on April 1.
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Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann said, “It is a must-win game for us now, because it will be very difficult to win the title.”
“It was a deserved defeat today. Apart from the last 10 minutes, they were the better team.”
Bayern’s sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic was scathing in his criticism of the performance.
“We let ourselves get away with the team playing in midweek. That’s not what it means to be Bayern Munich,” he said.
Jérémy Frimpong saved an early chance before Bayern took the lead themselves when Odilon Kosounou deflected Joshua Kimmich’s shot into his own net.
The hosts continued to cause Bayern problems, however, and deservedly equalized from the penalty spot on 55 minutes.
Amin Adly was initially booked for diving after he was clipped by Benjamin Pavard, but the decision was overturned by VAR and Palacios was substituted from the spot.
The scene was repeated 20 minutes later as Adili was brought down inside the penalty area by Dayat Upamecano.
Once again, he was booked for diving, and once again, Palacios fired the ball into the bottom corner after VAR intervention.
Referee Tobias Stiller said, “VAR was a lifesaver today and a perfect example of how the system should work.”
The win also kept Leverkusen in the race for Europe, with Alonso’s side now just three points off sixth place.
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Elsewhere, Union Berlin boosted their Champions League hopes as a rare goal from Rani Khedira helped them secure a 2-0 win over Bundesliga top-six rivals Eintracht Frankfurt.
Khedira – brother of 2014 World Cup winner Sami – stabbed in the opener to score only his seventh goal in 194 Bundesliga appearances and lift Union back to third.
“It’s also my first goal for Sangha, so I’m very happy,” Khedira told Dazon. “Today was more about mindset than strategy.”
Both sides come into the game on a five-game winless run and looking to make a comeback after being knocked out of European competition in midweek.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)