After 53 games, Bayern Munich finally lose

07 April,2014 07:44 AM IST |   |  AFP

Bayern Munich suffered their first Bundesliga defeat since October 2012 on Saturday as their record 53-match unbeaten league run was ended by a 1-0 defeat at Augsburg


Berlin: Bayern Munich suffered their first Bundesliga defeat since October 2012 on Saturday as their record 53-match unbeaten league run was ended by a 1-0 defeat at Augsburg.

Coach Pep Guardiola named a weakened team for the Bavarian derby and paid the price as Bayern were beaten for the first time in the German league since going down 2-1 at home to Bayer Leverkusen on October 28, 2012.

With one eye on Wednesday's Champions League clash at home to Manchester United, Guardiola started with three teenagers, giving Bundesliga debuts to wing-backs Ylli Sallahi and Mitchell Weiser while Pierre-Emile Hoejbjerg was named on the left wing.

The gamble backfired when Weiser lost possession to Augsburg's Daniel Baier who fed Sascha Moelders and the Augsburg striker blasted his shot past Bayern's goalkeeper Manuel Neuer with 31 minutes gone to claim the winning goal.

"Sooner or later we had to lose, we accept that and we have to prepare as quickly as possible for Manchester United," said head coach Guardiola.

"Next Wednesday is a final for us. It's a matter of life or death."

It was the third game in succession Bayern have fallen behind and Guardiola responded by bringing stars Mario Goetze, David Alaba and Thomas Mueller off the bench.

Left-back Alaba hit the post with 68 minutes gone as Bayern pushed in vain for the goal to keep alive hopes of becoming the first team to go through a Bundesliga campaign undefeated.

Having lost 4-2 at Borussia Dortmund in July's German Super Cup final and beaten 3-2 at home to Manchester City in the Champions League group stage last December, this was only Bayern's third defeat of the season since Guardiola took charge in June.

Bayern were already confirmed Bundesliga champions ten days ago when they wrapped up the title with a record seven games to spare and they remain 20 points clear in the table.

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