Manuel Neuer is human after all: Bayern Munich goalkeeper gifts Borussia Moenchengladbach victory

Video: Neuer straits

Kiran Moodley
Monday 23 March 2015 07:16 EDT
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Manuel Neuer.
Manuel Neuer. (Laurence Griffiths | Bongarts | Getty Images)

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He may be the world's best goalkeeper and the current holder of the Golden Glove, but even Manuel Neuer has his "Massi Taibi" moments.

A shot from Raffael after 30 minutes was straight at the Ballon d'Or nominee, yet as he went to scoop up the ball it bounced out of his hands and trickled over the line.

Another strike from Raffael in the second half was less straightforward, yet the ball still went under Neuer's body, having deflected off his hand. For a man not known for his howlers, two in one game was unheard of.

With Munich comfortably ten points clear at the top of the Bundesliga, the defeat was not particularly damaging for the team, although it was great win for Borussia Moenchengladbach. Still, Neuer's clangers gave the German champions their first home defeat in eleven months - since the 4-0 loss in the Champions League against Real Madrid.

That's not an auspicious sign for Munich, and with Neuer showing his human frailty, Pep Guardiola's side will be hoping they bounce back from this rare defeat as they prepare for the Champions League quarter-final against Porto. Munich don't play again until 4 April, against Borussia Dortmund, before Porto on 15 April.

Furthermore, star man Arjen Robben was ruled out injured for "several weeks" and is now a doubt for the first leg against Porto.

While Neuer may be having a worse Monday than most, Guardiola defended the German No. 1, stating, "We didn't lose due to Manu, but because we had problems in attack."

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