Bayern Munich’s shock loss to a lowly rival prompted Harry Kane to issue a brutal reminder for his teammates.
The German giants slipped to a 3-2 defeat at the Allianz Arena on Saturday to 16th-placed Vfl Bochum.
Bayern looked to be in cruise control thanks to Raphael Guerreiro’s double inside 28 minutes.
Bochum pegged one back three minutes after Guerreiro’s second, but the contest turned on its head in the 42nd minute when Joao Palhinha was shown a straight red card.
The former Fulham midfielder was given his matching orders following an ugly studs-up challenge on Bohcum striker Giorgos Masouras.
Bayern boss Vincent Kompany elected not to immediately re-shuffle his team following Palhinha’s red card.
The same team re-emerged for the second half, but it proved costly as Bochum equalised in the 51st minute through a header from Ibrahim Sissoko.
With the game in the balance, Kompany brought on Kane, Jamal Musiala, Michael Olise and Konrad Laimer in the 63rd minute as the hosts chased a winner.
But it was the visitors who stunned the fans inside the Allianz Arena as Matus Bero scored Bochum’s third in the 71st minute.
Bochum held on for the unlikeliest of wins to boost their hopes of survival.
It was Bayern’s second league loss and the first time they’d tasted defeat at home this season.
However, it has not had a detrimental impact on their lead at the top of the Bundesliga.
Thanks to second-placed Bayer Leverkusen’s 2-0 defeat to Werder Bremen on Saturday, Bayern still hold an eight-point lead at the summit.
Yet Kane was at pains to use the result as a reason why it’s vital to maintain focus for the full contest.
“We started the game well and did everything we needed to take the lead,” Kane said.
“Then they scored and the momentum shifted.
“After the red card, it shows that at this level you have to stay focused for 90 minutes or you can be punished – and that’s exactly what happened today.”
Bayern won’t have too long to dwell on the defeat as they face Leverkusen in the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie on Tuesday.
Kompany’s side won the first leg 3-0 thanks to a Harry Kane double and a goal from Jamal Musiala.
Leverkusen will be without defender Nordi Mukiele after he was sent off for a second bookable offence midway through the second half.
Should Bayern see off Leverkusen, they will face either Feyenoord or Inter Milan in the quarter-finals.
