Weakened Bayern beaten by Gladbach as Bundesliga resumes

Borussia Mönchengladbach came from behind to beat a severely weakened Bayern Munich 2-1 on Friday as the Bundesliga returned from the winter break amid a wave of coronavirus infections

Bayern were missing nine players, including goalkeeper captain Manuel Neuer, to positive tests and a handful of others were unavailable due to injuries and international duty.

Nonetheless Robert Lewandowski's 20th of the season to open the scoring suggested normal service would continue from the league leaders before Gladbach produced a brilliant comeback.

Florian Neuhaus swept in an equalizer and Stefan Lainer headed the winner from a corner before half-time as Gladbach ended a run of five games with victory.

Gladbach, who humiliated Bayern 5-0 in the German Cup second round before suffering a collapse in form, move up to 11th. Bayern still top the table by nine points but second-placed Borussia Dortmund could cut the gap away to Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.

"We have implemented our match plan very, very well," Neuhaus told broadcaster Sat1. "Bayern had a lot of absences but we did not want to let that influence us."

Bayern had asked for the game to be postponed, such was their situation, but could still name a relatively strong eleven even with youngster Malik Tillman making his starting debut.

The bench consisted of youth players, however, though Paul Wanner - now Bayern's youngest ever Bundesliga player at 16 years 15 days - and 17-year-old Lucas Copado will still remember their late debuts even in a losing cause.

"We had a situation, that is known," Bayern's Thomas Mueller told DAZN. "But we have still had a lot of quality on the park.

"It can't happen to us that we lose the ball so often at the final third. We made a lot of chances anyway."

Lainer's header in the 31st minute secured Gladbach's win just four minutes after Neuhaus took advantage of a poor clearance from Joshua Kimmich to level.

Kimmich was returning from a two-month coronavirus absence but the number now missing - Gladbach were also without four - shows the problem the league has in the coming weeks.

Virtually all teams are battling outbreaks but in a packed schedule there is little choice but to play on.

Bayern, despite their problems, could still have won the game with Lewandowski hitting post and bar as they searched for an equalizer and Mueller having a shot cleared off the line from the rebound of the former.

Gladbach keeper Yann Sommer also made a string of saves, from Lewandowski, Jamal Musiala and Mueller to clinch the win.

Lewandowski's 18th minute opener, a fine shot from inside the box after he turned Nico Elvedi, was in vain.