Bayern struggle to overcome Augsburg

BERLIN: Bayern Munich conceded the fastest own-goal in Germany’s Bundesliga history on Friday and twice had to equalise before securing a 3-2 win at Augsburg in their final tune-up before their Champions League football tie at Liverpool.

Ahead of Tuesday’s last 16, first-leg clash at Anfield, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp will have watched with interest how Augsburg, who sit just above the Bundesliga relegation places, caused Bayern a few problems.

The away league win means defending champions Bayern trimmed the gap to just two points behind leaders Borussia Dortmund, who are at bottom side Nuremberg on Monday.

With one eye on Anfield, Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer returned after three games out with a thumb injury, but conceded two goals in the opening 24 minutes — the first after just 13 seconds.

Leon Goretzka claimed an unwanted record for the Bundesliga’s fastest own-goal when he turned the ball into his own net.

“I can’t remember a worst start from us,” admitted Bayern coach Niko Kovac. “We have to play much better at Liverpool.”

The win could have come at a price as Kingsley Coman, who scored Bayern’s first-half goals, was injured in the dying stages.

“We need to see how he is, but it doesn’t look good,” admitted Kovac.

Coman twice equalised in the opening half, cancelling out the own-goal then levelling at the half-time break after South Korea international Ji Dong-won had restored Augsburg’s lead.

David Alaba scored Bayern’s winning goal early in the second half, but Bayern will need to improve to trouble Liverpool. “The goals we conceded were crazy,” said Bayern captain Neuer. “We had said we wanted to defend well and we didn’t manage that. Liverpool are a strong, attacking team and we must do better, luckily we have a few days to improve.”