Bensebaini double as Gladbach down Bayern

Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-1 Bayern Munich
Goals: 0-1 Perisic (49'), 1-1 Bensebaini (60'), 2-1 Bensebaini (90'+2)
Red card: Martinez (90'+1)

Gladbach began the weekend with a four-point lead over Bayern at the top of the standings, but you would never have guessed it. The leaders were outplayed in a decidedly one-sided first half as Bayern went all-out to redress the domestic balance and atone for their slender 2-1 home defeat to Bayer Leverkusen a week ago. The chances came thick and fast as Thomas Müller twice went close either side of Robert Lewandowski curling wide, before Gladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer made a fine recovering save to prevent a Joshua Kimmich effort that had squirmed under his body from crossing the line. It took Gladbach 41 minutes to test Manuel Neuer, though the Bayern skipper had no trouble collecting a speculative Alassane Plea strike. Ivan Perisic - on for the injured Corentin Tolisso - had boomed over moments earlier, while Leon Goretzka went closer still with a towering header that missed the target by a whisker.

If Bayern had been profligate by their lofty standards in the first half, they made up for it soon after the restart. Their first effort on the Gladbach goal produced the long-overdue opener, with Perisic trading passes with Müller before crashing a superb swerving strike into the back of the net, despite Sommer's best efforts. Gladbach had done virtually nothing as an attacking unit, but managed to get themselves back on level terms as Bensebaini headed home unmarked from a Jonas Hofmann corner with an hour gone. The goal gave Gladbach renewed belief, though Bayern did just enough to keep them at arm's length during a dominant spell. Perisic sent a cross-shot wide following an increasingly rare Bayern foray; Lars Stindl went even closer, but his driven ball had just too much on it for substitute Breel Embolo. The contest appeared to be heading for a draw when substitute Javi Martinez was sent off for a rash challenge on Marcus Thuram in added time. The referee pointed to the spot, and Bensebaini dispatched the ensuing spot-kick to consolidate Gladbach's lead at the summit and leave Bayern down in sixth after 14 matches.

• The last time Gladbach were top at this stage, they won the league (1976/77).
• Bayern had the same gap to the top (seven points) in February 2019, before fighting back to successfully defend their title.
• No other Bundesliga club have earned as many points against Bayern as Gladbach have since 2014 (17 points from 11 games).
• After winning their first four competitive matches under Flick without conceding, Bayern have lost two in a row 2-1.
• After scoring in the first 11 games of the season, Lewandowski is three without a goal. It's his longest barren run since April of this year.
• Perisic scored his fourth Bundesliga goal for Bayern, but first away from Munich.
• Bensebaini's first goal was Gladbach's first attempt inside the Bayern area.
• Gladbach captain Stindl made his first Bundesliga start since 13 April 2019, when he fractured his shin.

Watch: Bensebaini: "We deserved to win"

Gladbach: Sommer (c) – Lainer, Elvedi, Ginter, Bensebaini – Benes (Embolo 58'), Zakaria, Hofmann – Stindl (Raffael 85') - Plea (Herrmann 57'), Thuram
Unused subs: Sippel, Strobl, Kramer, Wendt, Jantschke, Neuhaus
Out: Poulsen (ankle)
Coach: Marco Rose

Bayern: Neuer (c) – Kimmich, Boateng (Martinez 67'), Alaba, Davies – Thiago, Tolisso (Perisic 20') – Müller, Goretzka, Coman – Lewandowski
Unused subs: Ulreich, Pavard, Coutinho, Cuisance, Gnabry
Out: Arp (fractured wrist), Hernandez (ankle), Süle (torn ACL)
Coach: Hansi Flick

Watch: Goretzka: "We threw the game away!"