Bayern and Leverkusen share the spoils | OneFootball

FC Bayern were held to a 1-1 draw by Bayer Leverkusen in Saturday's Bundesliga top match. Munich were dominant throughout, but after Robert Andrich and Aleksandar Pavlović traded goals in the first half, another goal refused to come for the German record champions, who remain unbeaten league leaders.

Bayern lined up with Manuel Neuer in goal and Raphaël Guerreiro, Dayot Upamecano, Minjae Kim and Alphonso Davies in defence. Pavlović and Joshua Kimmich anchored a midfield featuring Michael Olise, Jamal Musiala and Serge Gnabry, with Harry Kane up front. Kingsley Coman, Konrad Laimer, Leroy Sané and Thomas Müller took over from Gnabry, Guerreiro, Olise and Kane in the second half.

Level at half-time

The sides cancelled each other out at first, with Bayern enjoying more of the ball. Musiala fired wide, Upamecano miscued a header and Guerreiro missed from distance. Leverkusen soon had to resort to a foul to stop Musiala's solo run, with Olise curling the ensuing free-kick onto the roof of the net.

The visitors took the lead against the run of play when Granit Xhaka laid back from a corner to Andrich, whose low effort found the far corner of the net. Musiala miscued before Bayern deservedly levelled the scores, Pavlović unleashing a belting half-volley that found the top corner of the net via Lukas Hrádecký's fingertips.

No reward

Bayern pressed for a winner after the restart, but Gnabry hit the post and saw his rebound crash off the bar. Hrádecký denied Olise and Davies fired over before Kimmich put an effort wide.

Further chances came and went for Davies and Olise as the defending champions outfit dropped increasingly deeper. Neuer, who was rarely called into action throughout, denied Nathan Tella. Laimer rifled just wide, but another goal somehow refused to come and Bayern were left to rue their missed chances to reward their dominance with a victory.

The result means Bayern top the table on 13 points from five matches, two clear of RB Leipzig. The Bavarians will be back in action on Wednesday when they travel to face Aston Villa in the Champions League.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen

Photos from the game at home to Leverkusen

The best photos from Bayern's game at home to Bayer Leverkusen on Matchday 5 of the Bundesliga 2024/25 season.

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