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Bayern Suffer Nine-Year Low In Shock Loss, Slip Eight Points Off Title Pace

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Bayern Munich slumped to a shock 3-2 loss at lowly Bochum on Sunday, suffering a third successive defeat for the first time since 2015 and leaving them eight points behind Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga title race.

The result followed a 3-0 league defeat to Leverkusen last weekend and a 1-0 loss against Lazio in the Champions League as coach Thomas Tuchel came under renewed pressure.

Tuchel was bullish after the match, saying “the loss today wasn’t justified. We were extremely unlucky.”

Bayern were also reduced to 10 men with 13 minutes remaining when Dayot Upamecano elbowed Kevin Stoeger in the box, picking up a second yellow, giving away a penalty and seeing red for the second match in a row.

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Stoeger blasted the penalty past Manuel Neuer to give Bochum a 3-1 lead.

Harry Kane scored with three minutes remaining to get Bayern back into the match and even had a chance to equalise late, but directed a tame header straight at Bochum goalkeeper Manuel Riemann.

Bayern had beaten Bochum 7-0 in three of their past five meetings and the visitors scored early, Jamal Musiala blasting in after 14 minutes.

It was the German champions’ first goal in over three hours of football.

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Kane had a chance shortly after when one-on-one with Riemann but skied his shot into the stands.

Tuchel lamented his side’s wastefulness in attack, telling DAZN “we had more than enough high-quality chances which those guys would normally put away.”

The home side absorbed waves of Bayern pressure before Takuma Asano levelled after 38 minutes, shooting a low shot past Neuer on a counter attack.

Bayern fell behind just six minutes later, Keven Schlotterbeck heading in a corner.

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The visitors turned the screws early in the second-half but the match was delayed for 12 minutes by fan protests against the Bundesliga’s investment plan, after which Bochum held their own against the German giants.

With just over 10 minutes remaining, Upamecano clashed with Stoeger contesting a corner and was sent off.

In teeming rain, Stoeger hit his penalty low and hard to the right, past Neuer’s outstretched hand.

Bayern’s teenage forward Mathys Tel set up Kane after 87 minutes, getting Bayern back into the match but then Kane wasted a golden chance to seize a last-gasp point.

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Stoeger said: “It’s an enormous relief. We thought we could get a point and we got three.”

“I think all of Bochum is proud of the performance we delivered.”

Bochum coach Thomas Letsch added: “To win against Bayern is especially nice, given they’re a team stacked with talent.”

– Freiburg, Frankfurt draw –
Earlier on Sunday, Freiburg forward Michael Gregoritsch scored in the last minute to snatch his side a 3-3 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt.

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Two goals from Ansgar Knauff, both set up by the impressive Omar Marmoush, who also got on the scoresheet, had Frankfurt on course for three points.

The visitors however failed to clear a corner and the 1.93-metre-tall Gregoritsch headed past Kevin Trapp to level the scores for Freiburg for the third and final time.

A frustrated Trapp told DAZN “we’re shooting ourselves in the foot”.

“It went back and forth, which is a shame for us. We could have taken more out of it.”

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Frankfurt’s Marmoush scored first, but Freiburg’s Ritsu Doan hit back just three minutes later on the half-hour mark.

Marmoush’s superb pass allowed Knauff to score on the counter but the match was level again by half-time thanks to a penalty from Italy midfielder Vincenzo Grifo.

Knauff again put Frankfurt in front after 72 minutes before Gregoritsch came to the rescue.

In another match interrupted as fans threw objects on the pitch, Knauff then saved Frankfurt in the ninth minute of added time when he cleared a bouncing ball off the line.

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The point moves Frankfurt four clear of Werder Bremen in sixth-place, the last European spot.

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Atalanta coach makes a U-turn says he never knew his comment could offend Lookman

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Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini has clarified that he didn’t intend to offend his player Ademola Lookman.

Gasperini infuriated Lookman after criticising the Nigerian international for taking a penalty in Tuesday night’s home loss to Club Brugge.

The Italian declared that the striker was “one of the worst penalty kick takers” he had ever seen.

But, Lookman responded by labelling his manager’s comment disrespectful.

However, Gasperini clarified his position, saying: “He had an extraordinary impact. My words were never meant to be offensive.”

Gasperini spoke at a press conference on Saturday via TMW.

“Yesterday, in Udinese-Lecce, we saw what could have turned into a global spectacle, but fortunately, the players let it go,” he said.

“I would have liked to see a great player like him [Lookman] make a gesture toward [Charles] De Ketelaere, saying, ‘Come on, take the ball, put it in.

“He could become a penalty taker, adding another scoring ability. But I almost feel like there’s a narrative being pushed that Atalanta are in chaos when the reality is quite different.

“I always speak in front of the whole team, this has never even been an issue within the club.

“The player felt offended, but I never intended to offend anyone. In the end, I think it turned out well because there was no unnecessary drama.

“I also appreciated what happened in the Udinese game, with both the players and the coach. Lookman came on against Brugge in an extraordinary way, and his gesture, even if generous, doesn’t change my opinion,” Gasperini stated.

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End of road for Arsenal, may not win any shield this season – Report

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Former Liverpool man, Didi Hamann has told Arsenal they cannot win titles without a top striker.

Hamann believes that Arsenal’s quest for titles would remain a mirage if they fail to bring in a top striker.

He named Ollie Watkins as another good option the Gunners could have gone for in the winter transfer window.

“I said that before, I don’t see them winning the Premier League or the Champions League unless they sign a centre-forward like Ollie Watkins,” he told Prime Casino.

I don’t know how serious that was, but [Jhon] Duran went to Saudi, so I think it was always unlikely they’re gonna let Watkins go, still being in the Champions League.

“I think the team is well equipped, but the lack of a centre forward is obviously what I think harms their chances,” he added.

Mikel Arteta’s side have also been linked with Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, Liam Delap and Youssef En-Nesyri.

They are in dire need of a front man to solve their goal-scoring issues.

The Gunners are without a striker for the rest of the season following injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.

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Brighton humble Chelsea on Valentine’s day

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Victory in the FA Cup last week, a win in the Premier League tonight… Brighton are wishing they could play Chelsea every week.

A hugely-impressive performance from the home side who now move up into eighth place, above both Aston Villa and Fulham.

Brighton enjoyed their first home win in six games in the Premier League (D3 L2), while it was their joint-biggest win in the competition over a side starting the day in the fop four, along with a 3-0 win v Arsenal in May 2023 under Roberto De Zerbi.

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