Bayern Munich stunned by Saarbrucken in DFB-Pokal upset

The game started with a bang as Bayern's 20-year-old sensation, Frans Kratzig, provided an assist to the ever-alert Thomas Muller, who found the back of the net with a precise strike from 20 yards out. It took a mere 16 minutes for Die Reckordmeister to establish a lead, showcasing their dominance.

Despite Bayern's control of the match, Saarbrücken demonstrated resilience and equalized just before half-time. A lapse in Bayern's defence saw Kim Min-Jae's error, pressuring Kratzig, and enabling Stehle to set up Boeder. He squared the ball to Sontheimer, who kept his composure and calmly slotted it home to make it 1-1.

As the second half unfolded, Saarbrücken's goalkeeper, Tim Schreiber, emerged as the hero, denying Leroy Sane twice. With half an hour remaining, Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel introduced the cavalry, bringing on Gnabry, Musiala, and Coman to bolster their attack.

However, Bayern are not immune to cup shocks, and the 3.Liga underdogs continued to gain confidence, buoyed by their passionate crowd. In injury time, Civeja found Marcel Gaus unmarked on the left, and the 34-year-old unleashed a thunderous strike that eluded the grasp of Manuel Neuer. This unforgettable moment secured Saarbrücken's passage to the next round, while Bayern were left to forget a night they'd rather erase from their history books.

In a post-match interview, Thomas Muller acknowledged Bayern's subpar performance, saying, "There were a lot of situations where we could do better. We simply weren't clever. You have to congratulate Saarbrücken for their fight."

Muller, who was responsible for Bayern's opening goal, continued, "The good thing is that we'll be playing again in a few days. Even though it's a brutal blow. It's not our goal to be eliminated in the second round every time. The fans are right to be angry because they filled their section, and we didn't perform."

This shocking defeat marked the first time in 23 years that Bayern Munich have been eliminated from the DFB-Pokal by a team from the third division or lower. The last occurrence was on November 1, 2000, when they suffered an upset at the hands of FC Magdeburg, who were playing in the fourth tier at the time.

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