Augsburg end Bayern's 53-match unbeaten run
Augsburg - Sascha Mölders' solitary strike gave FC Augsburg a memorable 1-0 win that brought an end to FC Bayern München's unbeaten Bundesliga run of 53 games.
Neuer on song
A total of seven changes from the side held to a 1-1 draw against Manchester United FC in the UEFA Champions League set the precedent for a difficult afternoon for the Bundesliga champions, who were unable to turn the tide after falling behind 31 minutes into the first half.
Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, one of only four players to keep his place in the starting line-up following Tuesday's trip to Manchester, was by far the busier of the two goalkeepers in the opening exchanges, diving full stretch to turn Matthias Ostrzolek's low drive around the post and pouncing on a close-range effort from Mölders.
Bayern's only real attempt came from Xherdan Shaqiri, before Neuer was again pressed into action to slide a raking long ball into touch under pressure from the rampaging Alexander Esswein. Lacking their trademark fluidity, Bayern nevertheless created chances, with Toni Kroos rifling wide and Claudio Pizarro seeing a goal-bound effort charged down.
Mölders breakthrough
Augsburg, though, were far and away the better side and, after Halil Altintop failed to steer Esswein's dangerous cross beyond Neuer from close range, Markus Weinzierl's team finally got the breakthrough their adventurous endeavours deserved. Daniel Baier capitalised on a mistake by Mitchell Weiser to pick out Mölders, who rattled in his first Bundesliga goal since October with aplomb.
Going in at the break a goal down for just the third time this season, Pep Guardiola responded by throwing on Mario Götze. The former Dortmund man had scored three times off the bench for his new club and was immediately involved as Mario Mandzukic and Javi Martinez sent a pair of quick-fire headers just off target. Augsburg responded through Esswein, but Neuer was again on hand to smother.
Off the post
Fellow Bayern substitute David Alaba whistled a free-kick over the top, and the Austrian was later joined by Guardiola's final role of the dice Thomas Müller, who was on target when the two sides met earlier in the campaign. The two combined to almost bring Bayern level in the 67th minute, with only the foot of the post denying Alaba his third goal of the season with Hitz well beaten, before Müller poked straight at the Augsburg stopper from close range.
Bayern's quest to preserve their unblemished run was inevitably leaving them mightily exposed on the break, with Augsburg substitute Raul Bobadilla driving against the post from the tightest of angles late on. Three added minutes gave the visitors hope, but Weinzierl's men dug their heels in to become the first side in the Bundesliga to get the better of a disgruntled Guardiola.
Line-ups and statistics
Christopher Mayer-Lodge
See the goal that brought an end to Bayern's unbeaten run on the official Bundesliga YouTube channel:
