Bayer Leverkusen 3 Bayern Munich 1: Bailey, Volland and Alario down champions

Posted Sunday, February 03, 2019 by Goal.com

Bayern Munich led through Leon Goretzka, but second-half goals from Leon Bailey, Kevin Volland and Lucas Alario gave Bayer Leverkusen a win.
Bayer Leverkusen came from behind to beat Bayern Munich 3-1 and land another damaging blow against the champions' Bundesliga title defence.

Ex-Borussia Dortmund head coach Peter Bosz did his former club a huge favour despite Leon Goretzka giving Bayern a 41st-minute lead.

Leon Bailey launched a fabulous free-kick into the top-left corner before Kevin Volland and substitute Lucas Alario sealed victory for a vibrant Leverkusen, who move up to seventh in the table.

Instead of being punished for their 1-1 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt, Dortmund's lead over Bayern at the summit edges up to seven points.

Mats Hummels survived an early penalty shout for handball when he blocked Volland's shot at close quarters.

Leverkusen centre-back Sven Bender required treatment after a pair of brave challenges to deny Robert Lewandowski, but his team fell behind shortly before the interval.

Kingsley Coman made the most of the hosts' high line to charge in on goal. Lukas Hradecky saved but Thomas Muller sent the ball back into the box from the right for Goretzka to head home.

Lewandowski thought he had made it 2-0 in first-half stoppage time, but a VAR review confirmed he was fractionally offside before stylishly converting Coman's pass.

Bosz's men made the most of that let-off by restarting on the front foot and Bailey's wonderful strike brought them level after Coman tripped Volland.

Bayern goalkeeper Sven Ulreich scampered towards the same corner to claw Julian Brandt's 60th-minute volley behind.

Coman continued to lead a flagging Bayern challenge and they were clinically sliced apart as Karim Bellarabi crossed for Volland to slot past the advancing Ulreich.

James Rodriguez had a close-range header blocked but a late Bayern onslaught never truly materialised before Alario dispatched Brandt's low cross in the 87th minute.