Dramatic defeat in Munich

Bruno Labbadia made two changes to the team that lost at home to Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend. Jordan Torunarigha missed out through injury (ankle ligament tear), while Jhon Córdoba, making his full Hertha debut, was preferred to Krzysztof Piątek in attack. Also making his first start in blue and white was Deyovaisio Zeefuik. Academy player Julian Albracht warmed the Hertha bench for the first time in the Bundesliga, while Santiago Ascacíbar returned from injury to sit alongside him.

Labbadia’s men looked solid in the opening stages, working hard without the ball and not allowing the hosts to create chances. It took nine minutes for Bayern to threaten, as Gorertzka’s header from a corner came towards Robert Lewandowski, who forced a good stop from Hertha goalkeeper Alexander Scholow. Hertha almost found the opening goal on the resulting counter-attack; Dodi Lukébakio and Córdoba stormed forwards but the Belgian’s effort went wide of Manuel Neuer’s goal (10’). After quarter of an hour, Hertha did manage to put the ball in the net, but Córdoba’s strike was ruled out for offside. The disallowed goal was confirmation of a good start by the away team, who were quick to move forward when winning the ball back. At the other end, the hosts toiled to create chances with Gnabry firing into the side-netting from a wide position (25’). After 36 minutes, there was another goal disallowed for offside; this time, it was the hosts’ Thomas Müller who had the ball in the net. The opening goal arrived four minutes later, with FCB taking the lead. Lewandowski found himself free and poked home to open the scoring (40’).

Bayern came out firing after the break, upping the tempo and creating numerous chances. Lewandowski put one away in the 51st minute to double the lead. The boys in blue didn’t let their heads drop, though, and soon created a great opportunity of their own. Unfortunately, Cunha was unable to guide the ball past Neuer and Córdoba missed the target with the follow-up effort (53’). Six minutes later, Córdoba had more luckm, as the Colombian rose highest to head home a Cunha free-kick (59’). Labbadia reacted by going on the offensive, bringing on an extra striker as Piątek replaced Zeefuik. The substitute soon made his mark, exchanging passes with Cunha to set the Brazilian through on goal. Cunha kept his nerve to slot past Neuer and level the score at 2-2 (71’). The Bavarians reacted strongly and went looking for a third goal. Schwolow flew across the goal to keep out a Lewandowski free-kick (76’) and Tolisso missed a glorious chance as he found himself with an open goal on the edge of the six yard box (80’). Gnabry hit the side-netting again (83’), before Bayern were eventually rewarded for their pressure two minutes later. Lewandowski completed his hattrick as he poked home from a set piece (85’), but the match still wasn’t over! Labbadia’s last throw of the dice saw Jessic Ngankam enter the action, and the 20-year-old from Berlin made an instant impact. Ngankam put the ball in the net to celebrate his first goal for the Hertha first team, and with it an equaliser against Bayern München (87’). Yet the celebrations didn’t last long, as Bayern scored once again right at the death of a crazy game. Mittelstädt brought down Lewandowski in the box, and the Pole coolly converted the resulting penalty to decide the match (90+3’).

9’ minute: The first chance arrives for Robert Lewandowski, but Dedryck Boyata clears for a corner which is punched away by Schwolow. Lewandowski has another go, but ‘Schwolli’ keeps the ball out with his feet.

10’ minute: The match has switched gears all of a sudden. Our Hertha lads counter after the Lewandowski chances, but Dodi Lukébakio’s effort goes left of the target.

15’ minute: The ball is in the net, but the goal won’t count. After some great individual work from Mittelstädt, the left-back plays in Córdoba with a clever pass. On his first start for Hertha, Córdoba fires home – but he’s offside. A shame, but more the same please, lads!

34’ minute: Matheus Cunha has a pop from distance, but there’s no real threat for Manuel Neuer. Cunha has another go as he gets on the end of a Pekarík cross, but it goes over.

36’ minute: Thomas Müller puts Bayern ahead, but referee Benjamin Cortus rules it out after speaking with VAR. Another offside goal.

51’ minute: A second goal for the hosts, as Robert Lewandowski finds too much space in the box and fires into the bottom left corner. Out of reach for Schwolow.

53’ minute: Almost the immediate response! Matheus Cunha can only shoot at Manuel Neuer from a great position, and Jhon Córdoba cant control the rebound.

59’ minute: GOAAAAAAL! The deficit is cut! Matheus Cunha puts in a dream ball from a free-kick, and the ball lands right on the head of Jhon Córdoba on the edge of the six yard box. The Colombian leaps and heads home. Keep going!

71’ minute: GOAAAAAAAAALLLLL! EQUALISER! Matheus Cunha scores after a one-two with Krzysztof Piątek. YEEEES!

76’ minute:  Lewandowski threatens again, but Alexander Schwolow tips his free-kick onto the crossbar.

80’ minute: David Alaba strikes the ball towards Schwolow’s net, but the ball is deflected out for a corner. The set piece results in a huge chance for Bayern, as Corentin Tolisso finds himself six yards out with an open goal. Yet the Frenchman somehow fires over the bar – a let-off for Hertha!

85’ minute:  Unbelievable. Müller’s ball reaches Lewandowski in the box, who nets his third goal of the game to restore the lead. Very annoying.

88’ minute: GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLL! JESSIC NGANKAM! He's just come on, and Ngankam heads home Maximilian Mittelstädt’s cross. 3-3! World-class, lads!

90’ minute: Penalty for Bayern.  Mittelstädt holds Lewandowski as the Pole tries to head the ball, the foul is given and the champions have the perfect opportunity to win the game. Lewandowski makes no mistake, netting his fourth and snatching the points for Bayern.