No crisis despite Bayern loss: Lahm

ROSTOV-ON-DON • Bayern Munich captain Philipp Lahm bemoaned his side's costly mistakes but played down talk of a crisis, after Christian Noboa's superb free kick earned Rostov a shock 3-2 Champions League win on Wednesday.

The Bavarian giants lost their position atop the Bundesliga to RB Leipzig at the weekend, following a 1-0 defeat by rivals Borussia Dortmund and this was a second humiliation in a matter of days.

While Bayern were already assured of qualifying for the knockout stages, the result means Atletico Madrid have clinched top spot in Group D following their 2-0 win over PSV Eindhoven.

Douglas Costa rifled Bayern ahead on 35 minutes at the Olimp-2 stadium, but Rostov equalised through Sardar Azmoun on the stroke of half-time before going ahead through a Dmitri Poloz converted a penalty.

Juan Bernat levelled swiftly for the Germans, but Noboa fired competition debutants Rostov to a first group-stage victory with the winner on 67 minutes.

"It's a game we should win. Bayern should win here, regardless of the cold weather and the conditions," Lahm told Sky Sports.

"We have been negligent, we have been punished for our errors but to speak of a crisis is too much, but we must quickly correct our mistakes."

In Madrid, Diego Simeone's men were rarely troubled as two goals in 11 second-half minutes from French internationals Kevin Gameiro and Antoine Griezmann ensured Atletico remain the only side with a 100 per cent Champions League record this season.

Simeone can now afford the luxury of resting his key men for the Munich trip on Dec 6, while PSV must beat Rostov at home to progress into the Europa League.

"I'm delighted because with a game to spare we are first in a difficult group," said Simeone.

"We dealt with the games away from home in Russia and Holland very well."

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on November 25, 2016, with the headline No crisis despite Bayern loss: Lahm. Subscribe