Robert Lewandowski scored a stoppage-time winner as Bayern Munich produced a dramatic comeback to beat Hoffenheim 2-1 at the Rhein-Neckar Arena this afternoon.
Hoffenheim missed the chance to claim their first ever Bundesliga win over Bayern as Eugen Polanski missed a penalty after Jerome Boateng had picked up a second yellow card to hand the advantage to the hosts.
It was a disastrous start for the champions as Hoffenheim took the lead just nine seconds after kickoff when Kevin Volland capitalised on David Alaba's poor back pass to beat Manuel Neuer and equal the record for the quickest goal in Bundesliga history.
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Pep Guardiola's side were left stunned by the early setback, but they were soon dominating possession and twice threatened through Douglas Costa, who hit one shot straight at Oliver Baumann before finding the net with a powerful strike just a few minutes later.
Hoffenheim frustrated the champions for long spells of the first half and limited the space on offer to the likes of Arjen Robben and Mario Gotze until Thomas Muller had their first chance with a header which forced Baumann into a fine save.
The forward continued to look the most dangerous player for Bayern and he was inches away from an equaliser when his effort came back off the post.
It was a case of third time lucky for Bayern and Muller when Costa's effort could only be parried by Baumann, who was left helpless as the World Cup winner tapped in the equaliser four minutes before the break.
Predictably, Hoffenheim were on the back foot early in the second half as Gotze, who returned to the team to replace Robert Lewandowski in the only change, attracted the attention of a couple of defenders before picking out Costa, who could only fire wide.
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A second Bayern goal appeared to be inevitably, but the frustration continued for Guardiola on the touchline when a patient passing move ended with Arturo Vidal rattling the crossbar.
However, the drama would arrive at the other end when Boateng picked up his second yellow card in the space of two minutes by blocking a free kick with a raised arm in the box.
Polanski stepped up from 12 yards, but he could only strike the post with the penalty, before Alaba and Neuer combined to push the ball to safety.
The misery was almost piled on Markus Gidsol's side when Muller fired home what appeared to be his second of the match, but the forward was penalised for handball as the hosts attempted to survive a late onslaught.
There was still time for one final twist on a dramatic afternoon as Costa beat a couple of defenders on a fine run before teeing up Lewandowski, who had the simple task of slotting home the winner from close range.
Callum Mulvihill
