Defending champions Bayern Munich clearly staked their claim on the Bundesliga title by coming from behind to beat Hoffenheim 2-1 and pull even in the standings with the league leaders on Friday.
Vedad Ibisevic scored yet another goal for Hoffenheim — his 18th in 16 games — on 49 minutes, but Philipp Lahm equalized on the hour.
Luca Toni provided the winner a minute into injury time.
PHOTO: EPA
Bayern’s 10th straight unbeaten game pulled Jurgen Klinsmann’s side up to 34 points after 16 rounds, even with Hoffenheim, but three goals behind the promoted club on goal difference.
“It was a very hard fought match,” Klinsmann said. “It’s super that we could win in the end. Hoffenheim are the best team in the league that we’ve played against. But we also had enough chances to make it 2-1 earlier.”
The defeat was only Hoffenheim’s second in the last 10 games — the other eight results all victories for Ralf Rangnick’s upstart team.
“It’s a bitter outcome for us. A draw would have been absolutely deserved, we were closer to 2-1 than Bayern,” Rangnick said. “When you lose the game like that, it’s brutal.”
Hoffenheim spent the first five minutes of the game showing that they were not shy about being physical with the Bayern stars, such as Franck Ribery, Toni, Mark Van Bommel and even a front-charging Lucio.
And Demba Ba had the first two real chances as Bayern goalkeeper Michael Rensing was perfectly placed for a shot from the right wing and then the French-Senegalese’s header went over the crossbar in the ninth minute.
Bayern let the promoted side push forward and relied on their star playmakers Ribery and Ze Roberto to create chances on the counterattack, including Toni striking into the left netting in the 12th minute after a lofted pass by Ze Roberto as Hoffenheim keeper Daniel Haas was beaten.
After a bright first quarter, the rest of the first half was spent in midfield as Hoffenheim could not find any openings for Ibisevic and both defenses proved they were on top.
Hoffenheim had a fine counterattack chance in the 38th minute, but it closed very quickly and Ibisevic could not get much power on his shot.
The second half started with the same energy and Ibisevic struck the back of the net before many of the fans had even returned to their seats, giving Hoffenheim the first goal four minutes in.
Tobias Weis pushed down the right side and passed into the middle to the Bosnian striker, who fended off Massimo Oddo, turned, and blasted past Rensing from close range.
Rensing had to make a fine save from Carlos Eduardo’s left-footer in the 53rd minute. And Rangnick’s men continued to find more room.
But Daniel van Buyten sent his header in the 59th minute just over the crossbar from a corner. Then Lahm equalized in the 60th minute.
The Germany defender dribbled in from the left wing and into the middle just outside the area and his shot was deflected over Haas.
Bayern missed a chance to grab the lead in the 68th minute when Toni could not get to a dangerous free-kick into the box.
Miroslav Klose had loads of room down the right wing in the 81st minute, but pushed his shot wide left.
Sejad Salihovic’s free-kick a minute later was just off target into the side netting.
Salihovic was fed into the area by Ibisevic in the 86th minute, but could not beat Rensing one-on-one.
Bayern finally bagged the winner one minute into injury time, when Toni collected a poor clearance and beat Haas from inside the box.
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