Bayern Munich 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt: Trapp heroics and late Kostic strike end champions´ unbeaten

Bayern Munich’s unbeaten start to Julian Nagelsmann’s tenure came to an end on Sunday with a shock 2-1 loss to Eintracht Frankfurt.

The Bavarian giants had won nine in a row since an opening-game draw and looked set for another routine victory at Allianz Arena when Leon Goretzka deservedly put them in front.

But Martin Hinteregger equalised for Frankfurt before the interval and Kevin Trapp made a number of saves to put the visitors on course for a fifth successive 1-1 league draw.

Not content with only a point, Filip Kostic rifled in a winner seven minutes from time to inflict a first home Bundesliga loss on stunned champions Bayern since November 2019.

Defeat at home.

#FCBSGE 1-2 pic.twitter.com/QsEaD8kygk

— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) October 3, 2021

Bayern dominated the early stages as Robert Lewandowski headed over, Thomas Muller fired straight at Trapp and Niklas Sule found the side-netting from close range.

However, the breakthrough arrived with 29 minutes played through Goretzka’s low drive across Trapp into the bottom-left corner after Lewandowski intercepted Hinteregger’s pass and played the midfielder in.

The visitors were on level terms three minutes later, however, with Hinteregger making amends for that earlier error by powering a header past Manuel Neuer – just the seventh goal Bayern have conceded in 11 games this term.

Nagelsmann’s men would have shipped another before half-time if not for a Neuer save to deny Almamy Toure from a one-on-one, which came a little under a minute before Serge Gnabry side-footed against the post with the goal gaping.

Trapp pulled off arguably an even better save than Neuer early in the second half to keep out Lewandowski’s close-range header, before denying Gnabry and Leroy Sane in quick succession.

It was to be Kostic who secured all three points when he was picked out by Djibril Sow and fired an angled drive away from Neuer.

Trapp produced more stoppage-time heroics to tip a rasping drive from Goretzka over the bar, meaning a first defeat for Nagelsmann since succeeding Hansi Flick.

What does it mean? Bayern fall short of perfect 10

Bayern had been in scintillating form heading into this match against Frankfurt, whom they had beaten in 12 successive home league matches prior to Sunday’s visit.

Even a draw looked set to be a surprise outcome from this contest, but the visitors went one better thanks to Kostic’s strike to earn his side their first win of the Bundesliga campaign.

Bayern, who last tasted defeat on home soil in the German top flight against Bayer Leverkusen some 31 games ago, are now just one point clear of Borussia Dortmund and Freiburg at the summit.

Hinteregger makes amends

Hinteregger showed the perfect response for his mistake in the build-up to Goretzka’s opener with a towering header to equalise for Frankfurt.

The centre-back has now netted four times in five games against Bayern, which is more goals than he has managed against any other opponent.

Trapp the hero

Trapp made 10 saves to frustrate Bayern – the joint-most of any keeper in Europe’s top five leagues this season, level with Oliver Baumann for Hoffenheim against Dortmund and Sascha Burchert for Greuther Furth versus Stuttgart.

That includes two saves from Lewandowski shots, the Poland international going two league games without scoring for the first time since December 2019.

What’s next?

Bayern will be eager to get back to winning ways when they travel to Bayer Leverkusen on October 17. Frankfurt host Hertha Berlin on their return to action after the two-week break.