Bundesliga
The bankruptcies of FC Bayern and their consequences
FC Bayern lost 5-1 to Eintracht Frankfurt. photo
© Arne Dedert/dpa
FC Bayern rarely loses with a difference of four goals. And if so, things didn’t look good for your own coach or the competition in the following weeks.
With a difference of four goals FC Bayern Munich haven’t lost often in the Bundesliga this millennium. On Saturday it happened for the fourth time with a 1:5 (1:3) defeat at Eintracht Frankfurt.
“Under no circumstances can we continue to play at this level,” said Thomas Tuchel after the debacle, which also meant Bayern’s first Bundesliga defeat of the season. With a dose of defiance, the coach announced: “There’s a lot to work through and a lot to digest.”
How did Bayern react after the worst league defeats in recent memory? An overview.
Season 2001/02 – 1:5 at FC Schalke 04
In January 2002, FC Bayern suffered a 5-1 defeat at Schalke. The debacle was also triggered by a red card from Michael Tarnat before half-time. Bayern under coach Ottmar Hitzfeld improved in the weeks that followed, but the national titles were later won by others: Dortmund became German champions, Schalke secured the DFB Cup – after another victory over Bayern in the semi-finals.
Season 2008/09 – 1:5 at VfL Wolfsburg
Grafite’s dream goal and the provocative substitution of substitute goalkeeper André Lenz are still remembered by many football fans today. Wolfsburg’s clear 5-1 home win in April 2009 was not only decisive in the title fight, but also heralded the end of the Jürgen Klinsmann era. Klinsmann had to leave a few weeks later – and Felix Magath won the title with Lower Saxony, ultimately two points ahead of Bayern.
Season 2019/20 – 1:5 at Eintracht Frankfurt
An early red card and five goals conceded – then Niko Kovac’s relatively short tenure in Munich was history at the beginning of November 2019. After Frankfurt’s 5-1 defeat, he was followed by his assistant Hansi Flick, who promptly got off to a successful start and won the treble at the end of the season. Bayern became champions in an XXL season with a long Corona break, defeated Bayer Leverkusen in the cup final and won the Champions League final tournament in Lisbon. Opponent in the final back then: Paris Saint-Germain with coach Tuchel.