Hofmann the catalyst as Gladbach stun Bayern

Gladbach 3-2 Bayern
Goals: 1-0 Stindl 13' (assist: Hofmann), 1-1 Choupo-Moting 35' (assist: Davies), 2-1 Hofmann 55' (assist: Plea), 3-1 Thuram 84' (assist: Hofmann), 3-2 Tel 90'+3 (assist: Davies)
Red card: Upamecano (9')

With three wins in their last four home meetings with Bayern in all competitions, Gladbach's hex over the record champions loomed large as Upamecano was shown a straight red card inside nine minutes for a last-man challenge on Alassane Plea. Lars Stindl warmed the palms of former teammate Yann Sommer from the ensuing free-kick, but made no mistake with his next effort. Connecting first time with a Hofmann set-piece straight off the training ground, the Gladbach skipper swept home from 18 yards to leave the 10 men of Bayern with a mountain to climb. Stindl missed a glorious opening to double the home side's lead after sliding narrowly wide following an incisive counter. Benjamin Pavard put in a goal-saving challenge on Plea as Gladbach turned the screw, but Bayern hit back when Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting steered in Alphonso Davies' inch-perfect cross. Hofmann shot wide, Sommer thwarted Kouadio Kone and Leon Goretzka dragged wide in an action-packed conclusion to a captivating first half of Bundesliga football.

Bayern started the second half like the team a man to the good, aided and abetted by the introduction of Jamal Musiala and Leroy Sane. It was the latter who set up the first chance of note, a fierce Joshua Kimmich strike that sailed just past the upright. However, Gladbach heeded the warning and retook the lead with 55 minutes gone. Hofmann pounced as Bayern conceded possession in their own half, before exchanging passes with Plea and finishing past Sommer from close range. It almost got worse for Bayern seconds later when Ramy Bensebaini thundered an 18-yard strike off the top of the crossbar. Bayern kept on pushing as Sane shot straight at Jonas Omlin, Joao Cancelo tickled the side netting and Davies miscued following a mazy run, but the threat of another Gladbach goal was never far away. After Hofmann drifted a cross-shot inches wide, the Gladbach talisman raced away and crossed for substitute Marcus Thuram to add a third. Mathys Tel pulled one back in added time, but the damage had been done, leaving Europe's tightest title race wide open.

• Gladbach's 28 Bundesliga wins against Bayern is more than any club has managed against the record champions. Their 35 points against the Bavarians since summer 2011 (W10, D5, L9) is also 16 more than any other team has taken off Bayern in that time.
• Julian Nagelsmann is without a win in his last five meetings with Gladbach (D2, L3). It's his longest winless run as Bayern coach against a particular team.
• Hofmann has eight goals and seven assists in the Bundesliga this season. He was involved in 17 goals last season.
• Stindl has scored four goals in five Bundesliga appearances in 2023.
• Thomas Müller moved level with Oliver Kahn for all-time Bundesliga appearances by a Bayern player (429). Only Sepp Maier has made more (473).
• This was the 110th top-flight meeting between the clubs. Only Bayern and Werder Bremen have met more often in Bundesliga history (111 games).

>>> Get Hofmann for your Fantasy team for 16.2M!

Watch: Davies: "We kept fighting"

Gladbach: Omlin - Lainer, Itakura, Elvedi, Bensebaini - Kramer (Weigl 56' (Jantschke 90')), Kone - Wolf (Herrmann 90'), Hofmann, Stindl (c) (Thuram 74') - Plea (Neuhaus 74')
Unused subs: Olschowsky, Friedrich, Scally, Ngoumou
Out: Netz (thigh)
Coach: Daniel Farke

Bayern: Sommer - Pavard, Upamecano, Blind - Gnabry (Sane 46'), Goretzka (De Ligt 62'), Kimmich, Gravenberch (Musiala 46'), Davies - Müller (c) (Cancelo 16'), Choupo-Moting (Tel 62')
Unused subs: Ulreich, Sarr, Stanisic, Ibrahimovic
Out: Coman (calf), Hernandez (knee), Mane (leg), Mazraoui (heart), Neuer (leg)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann