Chaos in Germany as Leipzig keep the title race alive

With both sides losing 2-0 to their English opponents in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 ties, Leipzig and Borussia Monchengladbach looked to the Bundesliga for solace, with the Red Bulls throwing themselves back into the title race with the league's best winning run, and Gladbach looking to do the double over their opponents and end a poor run of results.

The Action: Desperately needing to get themselves back in the top four picture, things couldn't have started better for Gladbach, when future Bayern Munich defender, Dayot Upamecano, stepped across Breel Embolo in the box allowing Jonas Hoffmann to sneak the resulting penalty underneath Peter Gulacsi who really should have done better.

Gladbach needed a goal-line clearance to hold onto their sixth-minute lead, but just 12 minutes later they were comfortably ahead when a speculative cross-goal Marcus Thuram header deflected past a baffled Gulacsi.

Leipzig should have halved the deficit when long-range specialist Marcel Sabitzer missed a glorious chance whilst all alone in the box, and then soon after Yann Sommer made one of the best tackles you'll ever see from a goalkeeper, dispossessing Justin Kluivert who looked certain to either score or win a penalty whilst through one on one.

With title rivals Bayern already 2-0 up at home to Koln, Leipzig needed a wake-up call, and it was one they duly got with Christopher Nkunku guiding home to make it 2-1 early in the second half. And less than 10 minutes later the title race was back on as Yussef Poulsen guided a shot perfectly in off Sommer's post from distance.

The match then became all about the aforementioned Sommer, who denied a powerful Poulsen drive before miraculously tipping a Emil Forsberg free-kick onto the crossbar, and again saving from Poulsen on the follow up.

As has been the way for Gladbach recently though, they eventually broke, when, in the 93rd minute, the much-maligned Alex Sorloth scored another late winner, confirmed after a video review shut down appeals of a push in the build up.

The Big Picture: After years of boring Bayern dominance, Germany finally looks to have a title race, with Nagelsmann's troops two points behind the reigning champions and showing they have what it takes to stretch a tired-looking Munich side. You get the feeling an exit against Liverpool in the Champions League could aid their focus and resources. 

As for Gladbach, things haven't exactly been great recently, even before it was announced that Marco Rose will be joining Dortmund next season, and his players desperately need to show what they're made of after going winless in five games.

Memorable Moment: There's nothing more memorable than a stoppage-time comeback winner, and Sorloth bagging it after a torrid start to life in East Germany made it all the more special.

Man of the Match: While it may seem surprising to give a Man of the Match award to the goalkeeper of the losing side, Yann Sommer had an unbelievable game. His save from Forsberg's free-kick is probably the best of the season, and his tackle on Kluivert was goalkeeping of the highest quality.

Quote of the Day: Yussef Poulsen: "Everybody dreams of the title, of course we all think about it but we know there's still a third of the season left."

Stat of the Day: This is the first time in Bundesliga history that Leipzig have won a match after going 2-0 down.