'World-class' Sommer foils Bayern

BERLIN－Borussia Moenchengladbach maintained its strong recent record against Bayern Munich as a record-breaking performance from goalkeeper Yann Sommer helped secure a 1-1 away draw on Saturday.

After the game, Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann quipped to Sommer on Sky Germany's post-match interview panel: "You know, you could take a week off sometime."

Sommer's 19 saves in one game is the most in the Bundesliga since the league started recording those stats in 1993-94, easily eclipsing the previous record of 14.

Nagelsmann expressed his "annoyance" with the refereeing of Daniel Schlager, saying "he called every 50-50 situation for Gladbach".

Nagelsmann picked up a yellow card late in the match for asking an assistant referee if his headset was working.

Gladbach coach Daniel Farke lauded Sommer's "world-class performance" and his side's "show of will".

"Normally you are disappointed when you get a late equalizer. It's different today," added Farke.

Bayern began in dominant fashion, pinning Gladbach in its own penalty area.

Former Liverpool striker Sadio Mane had the ball in the net twice in two minutes in the first half, but both efforts were ruled out for offside.

With Bayern launching wave after wave of attack, a goal for the host seemed a mere formality. However, it was the visitor who took the lead when French striker Marcus Thuram took advantage of an error from countryman Dayot Upamecano to put his side up 1-0 just before halftime.

Bayern continued to dominate and almost equalized in the 61st minute through Mane, but Sommer somehow stopped the Senegalese twice in quick succession from close range, before pulling off a one-on-one stop against Leroy Sane.

As the game wore on, frustration began to creep into the home side's game, with Joshua Kimmich, Marcel Sabitzer, Sane and Nagelsmann all picking up avoidable second-half yellow cards.

Nineteen-year-old Jamal Musiala, brought on by Nagelsmann with 67 minutes gone, set up the equalizer in the 82nd, sliding a pass through for Sane to curl the ball past Sommer into the net.

Bayern went close several times in the closing stages, but Sommer ensured his side remains unbeaten this season.

Alongside Bayern in top spot sits Union Berlin, who won 6-1 away at Schalke earlier on Saturday.

Union, who welcomes Bayern to the German capital this weekend, won through braces from Sheraldo Becker and Sven Michel, along with strikes from Morten Thorsby and Janik Haberer.

The Berlin club will begin its first ever Europa League campaign in September, having won promotion to Germany's top flight for the first time in 2019. It is unbeaten after five competitive games this term.

Union coach Urs Fischer did not want his team to get carried away with the "lucky" win.

"Our 3-1 halftime lead was lucky. Schalke was better, more aggressive and more agile than us," the Swiss told Germany's SID.

French striker Anthony Modeste thanked Dortmund manager Edin Terzic after his first-half goal gave his side a 1-0 win at Hertha Berlin on Saturday.

Modeste headed in a cross from former Cologne teammate Salih Ozcan in the 32nd minute to put Dortmund 1-0 up.

Modeste, who is known for his theatrical celebrations, ran to Terzic and embraced him after scoring his first for Dortmund.

"I've copped so much (since arriving at Dortmund), but the manager was always there for me," said Modeste.

Elsewhere, RB Leipzig gained its first Bundesliga win of the season with a 2-0 home triumph over Wolfsburg.

Leipzig's French forward Christopher Nkunku converted a penalty after five minutes and tapped in a cross from Timo Werner late in the second half.

Bayer Leverkusen picked up its first points of the season with a 3-0 win at Mainz.

AFP