Borussia Mönchengladbach and Bayern Munich fans enjoy the Bundesliga's first ever Match in Silence
Fan groups convened to watch Borussia Mönchengladbach take on Bayern Munich on Bundesliga Matchday 21 of the 2022/23 season - but with a catch. They weren't allowed to make a sound!
A brilliantly off-the-wall concept, the Bundesliga's first ever 'Match in Silence' pitted Gladbach fans against their Bayern counterparts in a hugely entertaining battle of restraint.
A poker-faced match official oversaw proceedings as the two sets of supporters did their best to keep a lid on emotions, knowing they'd be slapped with penalty points for even the slightest audible infraction. The team with the lowest score at full time would be the winner.
It proved a tough ask for the watching Gladbach faithful, whose beloved Foals made the most of Dayot Upamecano's early red card to take a 1-0 lead through captain Lars Stindl. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting levelled for Bayern, before Jonas Hofmann and Marcus Thuram put the hosts back in control in the second half. Teenaged substitute Mathys Tel reduced the arrears late on, but Daniel Farke's side held on for another famous win over the record champions.
Watch: Gladbach sink Bayern's battleship
The full-time whistle broke the silence in the viewing room as the Gladbach contingent were finally allowed to voice their joy and approval.
Left to ponder what might have been following a potentially damaging loss in the wider context of their team's title defence, meanwhile, the Bayern aficionados didn't go home completely empty-handed. After trading congratulatory words with the boys in black, white and green, they were presented with the innagural Match in Silence trophy. The final score: Bayern 13-3 Gladbach.
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