Palacios punishes Bayern Munich as Leverkusen blow title race wide open

BUNDESLIGA Palacios punishes Bayern Munich as Leverkusen blow title race wide open

Ayoola Kelechi 20:50 - 19.03.2023

Bayern Munich conceded two second-half penalties, and now remain second in the Bundesliga standings

Exequiel Palacios scored twice from the spot as Bayer Leverkusen earned a 2-1 victory over Bayern Munich which has delivered a huge gut-punch to Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga title hopes. 

Palacios scored twice in the second half after Bayern Munich had taken a first-half lead through Joshua Kimmich. 

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The loss leaves Bayern Munich in second place after Borussia Dortmund’s victory against Cologne yesterday. 

How it happened

Bayern took the lead in the 22nd minute after Joshua Kimmich’s shot deflected off Odilon Kossounou and beat Lukas Hradecky in goal for Bayer Leverkusen. 

Up to that point, Bayern Munich had barely threatened to score and Leverkursen were encouraged by the sluggish nature of the Bavarians’ style on the night to make a comeback. 

They had to wait until the second half for their equaliser however, as ten minutes after the restart, they were awarded a penalty. 

Bayern Munich’s Benjamin Pavard was penalised for a poor tackle on Bayer Leverkusen’s Amine Adli and Palacios fired home from the spot to make it 1-1. 

The home side then took the lead as Bayern Munich gave away another penalty, after Adli was fouled again, this time by Dayot Upamecano. 

Palacios stepped up again and confidently dispatched the penalty to give Bayer Leverkusen a 2-1 lead which they held on to despite a late Bayern onslaught. 

Xabi Alonso comes back to haunt Bayern 

Bayern Munich’s loss put them at risk not meeting the minimum expectation of winning the Bundesliga this season, and it was orchestrated by one of their own. 

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Former Bayern Munich player Xabi Alonso, who spent three seasons at Bayern Munich was in the dugout for Leverkusen and masterminded the Bavarians’ defeat. 

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