Football Briefs: Bayern suffer shock loss, Schalke stage comeback

News of all that's transpired on and off the football field

Leaders Bayern Munich suffered a shock 2-1 loss at Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday on a day of high drama in the Bundesliga after Schalke 04 staged a remarkable four-goal comeback to draw 4-4 at Borussia Dortmund.

It was Bayern's first loss after nine straight wins in all competitions under coach Jupp Heynckes, who took over in October, and only their second in the league this season.

Bayern still lead on 29 points but the defeat cut their advantage to three points, with RB Leipzig now on 26 after their 2-0 win over Werder Bremen.

Gladbach struck twice late in the first half, in the 39th minute with a Thorgan Hazard penalty and five minutes later through Matthias Ginter.

Bayern, missing several key players through injury, fought back when Arturo Vidal scored with a low shot but they could not find an equaliser despite twice hitting the woodwork.

It was far more dramatic in Dortmund where Schalke 04 defender Naldo rose high to score a stoppage-time equaliser as they roared from 4-0 down at halftime to complete the Bundesliga's best comeback in 41 years.

Dortmund had scored four times in 13 minutes but saw their lead evaporate after the break as in-form Schalke, with four wins from their last five league games before Saturday, refused to surrender.

The Royal Blues became only the second Bundesliga team in history to avoid defeat after trailing by at least four goals, after Bayern Munich, who won 6-5 at VfL Bochum after trailing 4-0 in 1976.

There was more misery for Dortmund, without a league win since September, as top striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who had scored one goal and set up another, was sent off in the second half for a foul that earned him a second yellow card.

They shocked the visitors with Aubameyang's 12th minute strike, Benjamin Stambouli's spectacular own goal and a Mario Goetze header. Raphael Guerreiro completed the first half onslaught with a fine volley in the 25th.

But the visitors came back with goals from Guido Burgstaller on the hour and Amine Harit, who later limped off injured, leaving his own team with 10 men.

Daniel Caligiuri's 86th-minute left-footed missile set up a frantic finale and Brazilian Naldo made sure Germany's fiercest football rivalry lived up to its reputation for drama with his stoppage-time equaliser.

The result put Schalke on 24 points in third, level with Gladbach, while Dortmund are fifth on 21.

Icardi at the double again in Cagliari as Inter go top

Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi enjoyed another productive away day at Cagliari by scoring twice to give his side a straightforward 3-1 win on Saturday and take them, temporarily at least, to the top of Serie A.

Icardi had netted on his previous three visits to Cagliari and again savoured his love affair with the Sardinian capital as he became the league's joint top scorer, taking his season's tally to 15, level with Lazio's Ciro Immobile.

The win put Inter on top of the standings with 36 points but Napoli, who have 35, can reclaim top spot when they visit Udinese on Sunday, while champions Juventus, third on 31, host Crotone.

Icardi opened the scoring against the run of play with a finish from close range in the 29th minute after Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic had already made three saves to keep the home side at bay.

Marcelo Brozovic struck a second in the 55th minute, moments after coming off the bench, and after Leonardo Pavoletti had pulled one back, Icardi sealed the win for Luciano Spalletti's unbeaten side with another close range finish in the 83rd.

It was the second week in a row that the Argentine striker had scored twice following the previous Sunday's double against Atalanta.

Elsewhere, Hellas Verona, struggling in 19th place, snapped a five-game losing streak to win 2-0 at troubled Sassuolo despite playing the final 20 minutes with 10 players after Thomas Heurtaux was sent off for two yellow card offences.

Sassuolo's embattled coach Cristian Bucchi said, increasingly frustrated with his side's plight two points above the relegation zone in 16th place.

Bologna eased to a 3-0 win at home to Sampdoria despite a red card for Vasilis Torosidis, who was booked twice inside a minute at the end of the first half.

Chievo Verona staged a second half comeback to beat SPAL 2-1 thanks to a double from Roberto Inglese.