European roundup: Bayern Munich shocked by third-tier Saarbrücken

  • 11/1/2023
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Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich were stunned 2-1 by third-tier Saarbrücken to dump them out of the German Cup in the second round thanks to a last-gasp winner. Marcel Gaus netted the winner for the hosts deep into second-half stoppage time to complete a sensational comeback and trigger wild celebrations from the home crowd as the Bayern players looked on in complete shock. Bayern, who last lifted the trophy in 2020, had taken a first-half lead through Thomas Müller before Saarbrücken levelled in first-half added time. “This is a brutal blow for us,” said Müller, with his team next facing title rivals Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga on Saturday. “To be eliminated for the third time in the second round of the Cup is not what we strive for. We have to congratulate Saarbrücken for their fight. A bit of luck is also part of it. Then we are hit on the break in the 96th minute but we had wasted too many chances before that.” Bayern’s coach Thomas Tuchel made several changes to the team that crushed Darmstadt 8-0 on Saturday, leaving their top scorer Harry Kane on the bench along with Kingsley Coman and Jamal Musiala. The game had been in doubt due to heavy rain but it was the hosts who troubled Bayern more early in the match before the visitors opened their account with their first chance when 20-year-old Frans Krätzig set up Müller in the 15th minute. Bayern also had to take defender Matthias de Ligt off midway through the first half with the Dutch international suffering a knee injury. It got worse before the break for Bayern as defender Kim Min-jae’s pass was intercepted and Patrick Sontheimer tapped in from close range. The Bavarians struggled to convert chances and paid the price when the hosts launched a quick break and a cutback from the right sailed across the entire box past three Bayern players before Gaus thundered in the winner with a low left-foot drive in the sixth minute of added time. In Spain, Mason Greenwood scored twice in Getafe’s 12-0 demolition of sixth-tier Tardienta in the Copa Del Rey. The Manchester United loanee tapped in from six yards in the 15th minute before he lashed home across the goalkeeper from inside the area early in the second period. Greenwood was substituted soon after his second strike having taken his tally to three goals in eight games since joining the Spanish club in September.

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