Augsburg Stun Bayern Munich With Dramatic Late Comeback

The Allianz Arena was buzzing with anticipation on January 24, 2026, as FC Bayern Munich hosted FC Augsburg for a Bavarian derby that promised drama, intensity, and—given recent form—perhaps a few surprises. While Bayern entered matchday 19 as Bundesliga leaders with the wind at their backs, Augsburg arrived desperate to put some daylight between themselves and the relegation zone. But in football, as everyone knows, nothing is ever guaranteed.

Heading into the clash, Bayern had looked nearly unstoppable. Vincent Kompany’s side had begun 2026 with four consecutive wins, racking up a jaw-dropping 18-3 aggregate score. Their Champions League campaign was also humming along nicely, with a 2-0 victory over Union Saint-Gilloise just days before ensuring a spot in the round of 16. The Bavarians had racked up 71 goals in 18 league matches, conceding only 14—a statistic that would make any defense envious. With an 11-point cushion atop the table over Borussia Dortmund, Bayern fans could be forgiven for feeling a little bit invincible.

Yet, the build-up to the derby was not all smooth sailing for the home team. A virus had swept through the squad, sidelining key players and forcing Kompany to shuffle his pack. Defenders Josip Stanišić (ankle), Konrad Laimer (calf), Dayot Upamecano (illness), and Sacha Boey (illness) were all ruled out, leaving Bayern light at the back. Serge Gnabry’s gastrointestinal infection and Raphaël Guerreiro’s calf strain added to the woes, while Joshua Kimmich and Manuel Neuer started on the bench, surrounded by a crop of youngsters. Kompany was forced to field a makeshift lineup, with Urbig in goal, a back four of Itō, Kim, Tah, and Davies, and a midfield anchored by Goretzka and Pavlović. Olise, Karl, and Díaz supported Harry Kane up front.

For Augsburg, the situation was equally fraught, if not more so. Sitting 15th in the table and just three points above the relegation playoff spot, the visitors had parted ways with coach Sandro Wagner after a disappointing start to the season. Manuel Baum, back at the helm after a previous spell from 2016 to 2019, was tasked with steadying the ship. Augsburg, too, were missing defensive stalwarts: Jeffrey Gouweleeuw (knee), Chrislain Matsima (thigh), and Noah Banks (suspended) were all unavailable, while midfielder Kristijan Jakić was a doubt with a calf problem. The confirmed lineup saw Dahmen in goal, a back three of Arthur Chaves, Schlotterbeck, and Zesiger, and a midfield bolstered by Fellhauer, Rexhbecaj, Massengo, and Giannoulis. Kade and Rieder played behind lone striker Claude-Maurice.

Despite the absences, the Allianz Arena was packed and the energy palpable. Kompany, speaking before the match, acknowledged the challenge: “Games against Augsburg are traditionally difficult for us. Maybe it’s the derby factor. But we’ve got a full Allianz Arena and a fully motivated squad.” Augsburg’s Baum, meanwhile, stressed the need for resilience: “We need to play to our strengths, being compact, getting stuck into challenges, disrupting their rhythm and being brave in transition. You don’t have much time to think against Bayern.”

The match began with Bayern pressing high and looking for an early breakthrough. In the 13th minute, the hosts probed for openings, but Augsburg’s defense held firm. The breakthrough came in the 23rd minute: Michael Olise swung in a corner, and Hiroki Itō rose highest to head home, sending the home crowd into raptures. Bayern had their noses in front, and with their recent record, many expected them to kick on and seal the points early.

But Augsburg had other ideas. They weathered the Bayern storm, showing grit and determination. The visitors nearly equalized just before halftime, going on a break and rattling the woodwork in stoppage time. The halftime whistle blew with Bayern leading 1-0, but the match was far from over.

As the second half wore on, Bayern remained in control, dominating possession and camping around Augsburg’s box. Yet, the final ball was often lacking, and Finn Dahmen in the Augsburg goal dealt comfortably with shots from distance, including a speculative effort from Aleksandar Pavlović. Augsburg, meanwhile, looked dangerous on the counter, and their persistence paid off in dramatic fashion.

In the 75th minute, disaster struck for Bayern. Jonathan Tah and goalkeeper Jonas Urbig misjudged a corner, and Arthur Chaves pounced to nod the ball into the net. Suddenly, it was all square, and the Allianz Arena’s nerves were jangling. Just seven minutes later, Augsburg completed their stunning turnaround. Han-Noah Massengo found space in the box and fired past Urbig, giving the visitors an improbable 2-1 lead with less than ten minutes to play.

Bayern threw everything forward in the closing stages, desperate to salvage a result. Kompany made attacking substitutions, bringing on Nicolas Jackson for Goretzka and Bischof for Itō, while Augsburg responded with fresh legs of their own. Despite four minutes of added time, Bayern simply could not find a way through Augsburg’s resolute defense. The final whistle confirmed a stunning 2-1 victory for the visitors, handing Bayern their first league defeat of the season and sending shockwaves through the Bundesliga.

For Kompany’s men, the defeat was a bitter pill, especially given their dominance for long stretches and their remarkable form since the winter break. “If the opponent is fresh in the first 45 minutes and does all they can for their game plan, then it’s not easy sometimes. But when you’re physically strong in the second half, that’s ideal,” Kompany had said before the match. Yet on this occasion, it was Augsburg who found the extra gear late on.

For Augsburg, the win was nothing short of monumental. It gave them a vital boost in their battle against relegation and proved they could go toe-to-toe with the league’s best. Manuel Baum’s tactical discipline and his players’ fighting spirit were rewarded handsomely.

The Bavarian derby delivered everything fans could have hoped for: drama, intensity, and a reminder that in football, anything can happen. As the dust settles, Bayern remain atop the Bundesliga, but their aura of invincibility has been dented. Augsburg, meanwhile, will savor this victory—one for the ages in their club’s history.