Injury-hit Bayern Munich claimed a 3-2 win at Augsburg in the Bavarian derby on Saturday to close the gap on Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen to one point.
First-half goals from 19-year-old Aleksandar Pavlovic and Canadian international Alphonso Davies, plus one from the league's top scorer Harry Kane just before the hour, took second-placed Bayern to 47 points. .
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Bayern, whose winger Kingsley Coman suffered a serious knee injury that could keep him out for some time, awarded two late penalties and Augsburg converted one of them in stoppage time.
“It was an unusual lineup for us with all the injuries and absences,” Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel said. “We were a little lucky at the beginning. We knew it was going to be difficult against them. But then we improved and created a lot of chances.
“In the end everything got a little turbulent with the two late penalties. Overall I am satisfied with the attitude and performance of my team.”
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The hosts got off to a stronger start and also put the ball in the net before a VAR review ruled out the goal.
Bayern were missing nine players through injury or international commitment, including Konrad Laimer, Joshua Kimmich and Dayot Upamecano, who were injured in the 1-0 midweek home win over Union Berlin.
They still managed to take the lead with teenager Plavlovic turning in the box and scoring his first league goal in the 23rd minute.
However, just a minute later, Bayern winger Coman had to be helped off the field after what appeared to be a knee injury, increasing the pressure on an already depleted team.
“We have to wait until tomorrow to have a precise diagnosis. But it doesn't look good. We suspect a ligament injury,” Tuchel said.
Bayern added a second goal in first-half injury time when Davies fired low.
Augsburg recovered seven minutes after the restart when Ermedin Demirovic was left unmarked in the area and beat goalkeeper Manuel Neuer with a header to close the gap.
Kane then scored his 23rd league goal in the 58th minute after a lengthy VAR review to restore Bayern's two-goal lead before Augsburg were awarded a penalty in the 87th minute.
Neuer took the right corner and deflected Sven Michel's penalty, but Demirovic beat him with another penalty in stoppage time to inject some late-game drama.
The defeat leaves Augsburg in 12th place with 21 points.
