BAYERN MUNICH were left stunned after being dumped out of the German Cup by second-division side Holstein Kiel.
The defending champions were shocked 6-5 on penalties after their rescheduled second-round game finished 2-2.
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It was the first time Hansi Flick’s side – who won the treble last season – have lost to a lower-tier side in the DFB-Pokal since 2004.
Bayern did not rest their stars, with Manuel Neuer, Alphonso Davies, Joshua Kimmich, Thomas Muller, Leroy Sane and Serge Gnabry all starting, with Robert Lewandowski coming off the bench in snowy conditions in the north of Germany.
Fin Bartels struck the winning penalty to send the underdogs through after Bayern midfielder Marc Roca saw his spot kick saved by Kiel goalkeeper Ioannis Gelios.
The Spanish midfielder was the only player to miss a penalty in the shootout.
The teams had been due to play in December but the game was put back to give Bayern more time to cope with its busy schedule.
It looked set to be a long night for Kiel – who sit third in Germany’s second division after a draw with St. Pauli and loss to Osnabruck in their last two games – when ex-Arsenal winger Gnabry put the Bavarian giants ahead inside the first 15 minutes.
Gnabry, who was back from a shin injury, couldn’t miss when Gelios deflected Muller’s header to the Bayern forward’s feet.
However, TV replays showed Gnabry was offside when Muller knocked the ball forward. VAR will only come into operation in the next round.
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Gnabry went close again before Bartels equalized against the run of play before the break.
Jannik Dehm split the Bayern defence with a through ball and Bartels stayed cool before shooting past Neuer.
Sane restored the visitors lead with a perfect free-kick just after half-time, but Bayern were then frustrated by the home side’s committed and well-organised defense.
Gelios did brilliantly to push Jamal Musiala’s effort onto the post and Finn Porath missed a good chance for Kiel at the other end.
The snow had got heavier when Hauke Wahl headed in Kiels equaliser with the last touch of normal time.
The Kiel players struggled through the added period but earned the penalty shootout with some dogged defending.
Lewandowski got Bayern off to a successful start and neither side missed until Gelios saved Rocas effort. Bartels did the rest.
