Bayer Leverkusen’s Exequiel Palacios scored two second-half penalties to complete a 2-1 comeback victory over visitor Bayern Munich on Sunday and deny it the Bundesliga lead.
Bayern was nowhere to be seen at the start with the host unleashing a flurry of shots towards Yann Sommer’s goal in the opening 15 minutes.
Its overall performance going into the one-week break for international matches and ahead of the April 1 Der Klassiker against leader Borussia Dortmund was not what coach Julian Nagelsmann wanted to see.
“We did not deserve the first-half lead. We did not have the activity we had with the ball in the past weeks,” said Nagelsmann.
“The penalties were correct. It all took too long for us today and we deserved to lose because were the worse team.”
Bayern did, however, score against the run of play and with its first shot of the game when Joshua Kimmich’s effort was deflected in after 22 minutes.
Things, however, took a turn for the worse for Bayern after the break with sloppy defending earning the host two penalties.
Palacios draw it level with a well-taken 55th minute spot kick and then earned another, this time for a foul by Dayot Upamecano.
The Argentine stepped up again to beat Sommer for a second time and complete the comeback for Xabi Alonso’s team in the 73rd.
It hung on to victory despite late pressure from the Bavarians and chances from Kinglsey Coman and Matthijs de Ligt.
Bayern, which faces Manchester City in the Champions League quarterfinals next month and are also through to the German Cup last eight, remain in second place on 52 points, one behind leader Dortmund, which crushed Cologne 6-1 on Saturday.
Leverkusen climbed up to eighth on 37.
“It is clear against Dortmund we have to win, to firstly take over the lead and then hopefully bring the title to Bayern,” Nagelsmann said.
“If we don’t win it or lose then with the form that Dortmund currently have it will be difficult.”
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