Neuer blunder gifts Augsburg a Bundesliga-record eight-second goal as Bayern drop points

Robin Fellhauer scored after just eight seconds at the Allianz Arena on Saturday to set a new Bundesliga record, capitalising on a Manuel Neuer error that gifted Augsburg an extraordinary lead. Neuer, closed down immediately after kick-off, played a weak chip straight to Fellhauer, who collected the ball with the goalkeeper stranded well outside his box and slotted calmly into the net. The goal broke a record that had stood for 12 years, surpassing Karim Bellarabi’s nine-second strike for Bayer Leverkusen against Borussia Dortmund in 2014 — a mark later matched by Kevin Volland for Hoffenheim, also against Bayern, in 2015.

Fellhauer was understandably euphoric after the final whistle. “It’s indescribable because you’re part of something really big,” he said. “Someone has to make up for those eight seconds now.”

Bayern fought back and levelled through Ismael Saibari in the 55th minute, but Augsburg retook the lead when Neuer parried Calvin Brackelmann’s effort directly into the path of Rodrigo Ribeiro, who tapped in the rebound. Nathaniel Brown’s 80th-minute equaliser rescued a point for the Bundesliga giants, but the 2-2 draw represents a second slip of the season for Vincent Kompany’s side and allowed Borussia Dortmund to move to the top of the table.

Neuer’s double error will intensify scrutiny of the 40-year-old, who has less than a year remaining on the contract extension he signed in the summer. He currently shares goalkeeping duties with 23-year-old Jonas Urbig, who made his Germany debut during the recent international break and kept a clean sheet on his first appearance for the national side.

Legend Lothar Matthäus has spoken openly about Urbig’s potential as a long-term successor. “I see Jonas Urbig as a serious challenger,” Matthäus wrote. “His build-up play, his movements, his saves, and how he intercepts crosses — I thought I saw the young Manuel Neuer there.”

Neuer himself has already hinted that retirement at the end of the season is likely. “I don’t play the matches just to say, ‘This is my last game,’” he said during pre-season. “It doesn’t matter whether this might have been my last time at one stadium or another — we’ll see. It certainly looks very much as though I’m going to retire.”