Hoffenheim put four past Bayern Munich to end long unbeaten run
Bayern Munich slumped to a shock 4-1 loss at Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga on Sunday, ending a 32-match unbeaten run stretching back to last year.
Andrej Kramaric scored twice as Bayern lost for the first time in 21 Bundesliga games, and suffered a first defeat in all competitions since December 2019.
Ermin Bicakcic put the hosts ahead in the 16th minute, nodding in a corner at the near post. Eight minutes later, a mistake by Bayern defender Benjamin Pavard allowed Munas Dabbur to break free and beat keeper Manuel Neuer with a fine finish.
Joshua Kimmich’s superbly curled shot from the edge of the area cut the deficit in the 36th minute, before Neuer tipped a Kramaric effort on to the post. Bayern striker Joshua Zirkzee almost bagged an equaliser in the 56th minute but his shot hit the bar.
Bayern, who beat Sevilla in midweek to win the Uefa Super Cup, showed signs of fatigue as the hosts kept pressing and Kramaric sealed victory in the 77th minute. The Croatian and former Leicester forward controlled a cross and turned beautifully before beating Neuer.
Kramaric scored a stoppage-time penalty to seal an impressive win for Hoffenheim’s new coach Sebastian Hoeness, a Bayern youth coach until last season and nephew of longtime club boss Uli Hoeness.
Wagner sacked by Schalke amid winless run
Schalke have sacked David Wagner as head coach following their poor start to the 2020-21 campaign, the Bundesliga club said in a statement on Sunday.
Wagner’s side were thrashed 8-0 by the champions, Bayern Munich, in their season opener last weekend and endured a 3-1 defeat by Werder Bremen on Saturday. “FC Schalke 04 have relieved David Wagner of his duties with immediate effect,” Schalke said in a tweet.
Schalke are now without a win in 18 league games. The former Huddersfield manager joined Schalke in 2019 and in the first half of last season lived up to fans’ expectations with the club in Champions League contention.
However, they added only 10 more points from their next 17 matches to end up 12th, eight points above the relegation play-off spot. Schalke said they would appoint Wagner’s successor in the coming days.