Borussia Dortmund have lost their top-of-the table clash away to FC Bayern Munich. BVB suffered a deserved 4-2 (3-0) defeat to the new league leaders on Bundesliga Matchday 26.

Boris Rupert reporting from Munich

The 75,000 spectators in the stadium and millions all over the world watching on TV saw the game end as a contest between the 13th and 23rd minutes, during which the hosts scored three goals from two chances. Upamecano's opener and Müller's brace were followed by a Coman goal five minutes after the restart to make it 4-0. Overall, it was a poor BVB performance after a strong start. A Can penalty (72) and a Malen strike (90) reduced the deficit to 4-2 in the closing stages.

The scenario:
BVB, who travelled to the reigning champions as league leaders, had picked up 10 points more than FCB since the winter break and were one point clear in the table. The 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture in Dortmund ended a run of seven league defeats to Bayern. The last time BVB came away from Munich with something was back in April 2014 (3-0 away win).

Personnel matters:
The whole squad was available with the exception of Meunier (back complaints), Reyna (infection), Duranville and Morey (fitness training). Seven players returned to the starting XI (Kobel, Can, Brandt) or to the squad (Özcan, Moukoko, Adeyemi, Bynoe-Gittens) compared to the 6-1 victory over Cologne prior to the week-long international break.

Tactics:
Bayern lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation off the ball, switching to a 4-1-2-3 in possession. Goretzka then pushed up level with Müller in attacking midfield, while Sané, Choupo-Moting and Coman played alongside each other up top. BVB seamlessly transitioned between a 4-1-4-1 and a 4-3-3.

The match & analysis:
Bayern showed Borussia plenty of respect and took a highly cautious approach, which initially permitted the Black & Yellows to venture into the Munich half on numerous occasions and create the first chance of the match. But de Ligt cleared behind for a corner to deny Reus at the last moment (6).

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A long ball from his own half by Upamecano marked the start of dark 10-minute spell for the Black & Yellows. The long through-ball in behind was miskicked by Kobel 20 metres from his own goal and ended up in the back of the net for 1-0 (13). Five minutes later de Ligt then flicked on a corner with a header towards Müller, who touched the ball over the line with his thigh from five metres out (18). Ryerson then lost the ball to Sané. Kobel could not hold onto his shot and Müller slotted home for 3-0 (23). The game was over as a contest. Bayern quickly took their foot off the gas.

Terzic made two changes at half-time, with Özcan and Malen replacing Ryerson and Brandt. The injured Schlotterbeck had already made way shortly before the break, with Hummels coming on as his replacement. Guerreiro dropped into the back four. Haller spurned a good opportunity to reduce the deficit to 3-1 when he missed Wolf's cross in the 50th minute. Sané precisely teed up Coman, who instead made it 4-0, immediately afterwards. Bayern repeatedly identified gaps in the BVB rearguard in the period that followed. A penalty was awarded for a foul on Bellingham by Gnabry with 20 minutes to go, with Can coolly slotting home from the spot. Malen pulled it back to 4-2 after a one-two with Guerreiro in the final minute.

Outlook:
Borussia Dortmund will be away to Rasenballsport Leipzig in the DFB-Pokal quarter-finals on Wednesday (20:45 CET, live on ZDF), before returning to league action against Union Berlin at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK next Saturday (15:30 CET).

Teams & goals

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Bundesliga Matchday 26
FC BAYERN MUNICH 4-2 (3-0) BORUSSIA DORTMUND

Bayern Munich: Sommer – Pavard, Upamecano, de Ligt, Davies (Cancelo, 79) – Kimmich, Goretzka (Gravenberch, 85) – Sané, Müller (Gnabry, 69), Coman (Musiala, 79) – Choupo-Moting (Mané, 69)
Bor. Dortmund: Kobel – Wolf, Süle, Schlotterbeck (Hummels, 44), Ryerson (Özcan, 46) – Can – Bellingham, Guerreiro – Brandt (Malen, 46), Reus (Dahoud, 61) – Haller (Moukoko, 61)
Substitutes: Ulreich, Blind, Mazraoui, Stanisic – Meyer, Modeste, Adeyemi, Bynoe-Gittens
Goals: 1-0 Upamecano (13), 2-0 Müller (de Ligt, 18), 3-0 Müller (Sané, 23), 4-0 Coman (Sané, 50), 4-1 Can (pen. for foul on Bellingham by Gnabry, 72), 4-2 Malen (Guerreiro, 90)
Corners: 6-2 (1-1 at half-time), chance ratio: 10-3 (5-1)
Referee: Fritz (Korb), yellow cards: Upamecano – Can
Attendance: 75,000 (sold out), weather: bright to cloudy, 8 degrees