Bayern slumps to rare defeat

BERLIN (AP):

Runaway Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich lost 2-1 at Leipzig yesterday in a rare stumble ahead of the international break.

Sandro Wagner headed the visitors into an early lead, but Naby Keita equalised before the break, and Timo Werner claimed the winner 10 minutes after it.

"We didn't play like we have in the last weeks," Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes said. "Leipzig is the deserved winner. You get such games."

It was Bayern's third defeat in 27 German league games and Leipzig's first-ever win over the Bavarian powerhouse after three losses in the Bundesliga and a defeat on penalties in the German Cup last October.

Bayern lead Schalke by 17 points with seven games remaining. They can wrap up their record-extending sixth consecutive title with a win at home over third-place Borussia Dortmund on March 31 if Schalke drop points to Freiburg on the same day.

Schalke and Dortmund had already postponed the celebrations by winning their 27th-round games, but Wagner got Bayern fans cheering when he scored in the 12th minute.

LEWANDOWSKI RESTED

Wagner, selected to give Robert Lewandowski a rest, was one of several Bayern players waiting to head James Rodriguez' brilliant cross inside the far post.

But Bayern failed to cope with Leipzig's pressing game and Keita deservedly equalised on a rebound after Werner's effort was blocked.

Keita then sent Werner through to score his first goal since January 20 and end Leipzig's four-game winless run.

Heynckes, who had called up Bayern under-19 midfielder Meritan Shabani to the senior squad for the first time, sent Lewandowski on for the last 20 minutes, but the Poland striker was unable to add to his league-leading tally.