Bayern Munich failed to extend their lead at the top of the Bundesliga after falling to a 3-2 defeat to Borussia Mönchengladbach.
The defending champions were reduced to 10 men as they failed to win a sixth consecutive H2H with the Foals.
Mönchengladbach’s European push suffered after a poor start to 2023 and the Foals’ 4-1 humbling at Hertha Berlin last time out left them with further ground to make up to the Bundesliga’s top six.
Bayern were set to provide another tough test after winning their last four in all competitions, but Dayot Upamecano’s early sending-off for a last-man challenge on Alassane Pléa gave the hosts a lucky break they desperately needed.
Without hesitation, Daniel Farke’s men seized upon their numerical advantage and Lars Stindl’s thumping strike from the edge of the area flew past former Foals goalkeeper Yann Sommer moments after Upamecano’s dismissal.
The Rekordmeister soon regrouped and Mönchengladbach were undone by Alphonso Davies’ blistering run as the wing-back raced into the penalty area and cut back to Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, who fired past Jonas Omlin.
Bayern would have to rediscover the scoring form that produced 12 goals in their previous four matches, and Joshua Kimmich tried his luck from distance, but his powerful strike flew just over the crossbar.
Inevitably, Mönchengladbach continued to utilise their advantage and restored the lead when Jonas Hofmann played a one-two with Pléa inside the area and drilled under Sommer.
Sensing an opportunity to put the game to bed, the Foals piled forward and substitute Marcus Thuram exploited Bayern’s open defence and scored his first goal of 2023 with a tidy finish into the bottom corner before
Gladbach very nervously saw out victory, despite a late consolation from Mathys Tel, earning three points that could reignite their European push in the final third of the season.
Once again, Bayern and Julian Nagelsmann were tormented by the Foals, and the Rekordmeister could find themselves off the summit by the end of the weekend, as Union Berlin and Borussia Dortmund close in.