(Football news) Bayer Leverkusen’s Exequiel Palacios helped his club get a comeback victory over Bayern as the Argentine scored two second-half penalties to complete a 2-1 victory over visitors on Sunday and deny them the Bundesliga lead. Bayern had a terrible season as they were nowhere to be seen at the start with the hosts unleashing a flurry of shots at Yann Sommer’s goal in the opening 15 minutes.
Their performance going into the international break and ahead of the all important Der Klassiker on 1st April against leaders Borussia Dortmund was not what coach Julian Nagelsmann wanted to see at this moment. Bayern did score against the run of play, with their first shot of the game when Joshua Kimmich’s powerful effort was deflected in the goal after 22 minutes. However, things took a turn for the worse for Bayern after half time as sloppy defending earned the hosts two penalties.
Palacios drew Leverkusen level with a well-taken 55th minute spot kick and then went on to earn another, this time from a foul by Dayot Upamecano.The Argentine again stepped up to beat Sommer for a second time and complete a memorable comeback for the former Bayern Munich players team in the 73rd minute. Xabi Alonso’s side, despite late pressure from the Bavarians defended very well. Bayern will face Manchester City in the Champions League quarter finals next month as they are in second place on 52 points, one behind leaders Borussia Dortmund while Leverkusen climbed up to eighth on 37 points.
“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.”
“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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