MUNICH (AFP) - Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann said that his team lacked their usual energy after they were held to a draw for the second week in a row at Union Berlin and knocked off top spot in the Bundesliga.
Union battled to a well-earned 1-1 draw at home to Bayern, allowing fellow high-fliers Freiburg to leapfrog their way into first after they beat Bayer Leverkusen in a five-goal thriller.
“In the end it was a fair result. The energy which I’ve praised so often in the last few weeks wasn’t really there today,” said Nagelsmann, adding that his side would need to perk up in their Champions League opener against Inter next Wednesday.
After their impressive start to the season, Union had begun the day hot on Bayern’s heels with only goal difference separating the two teams.
They showed why early in the first half, taking the lead through Sheraldo Becker with a brilliantly worked free-kick to stun the champions and send the home crowd into ecstasy.
Their celebrations were cut short a few minutes later as Bayern immediately turned the screws and Kimmich levelled the scores with a fizzing, first-time finish from the edge of the area.
Bayern were repeatedly thwarted by Danish goalkeeper Frederik Ronnow as both sides had chances to win the game in a thrilling battle after the break.
Their second slip in as many weeks mean the champions are now in third, behind Borussia Dortmund and surprise leaders Freiburg, who beat Leverkusen 3-2.
Leverkusen took the lead on 16 minutes, Kerem Demirbay prodding the ball in after some penalty-box pinball.
Freiburg hit back with two quick goals after half time, Matthias Ginter heading in the equaliser from a corner early before Michael Gregoritsch capitalised on a defensive error to turn the game on its head.
Chelsea loanee Callum Hudson-Odoi then set up Patrick Schick with a fine cross just minutes after coming off the bench for his Bundesliga debut.