VAR madness in Leverkusen! Bayern fight for a draw while doubly outnumbered | OneFootball

FC Bayern dropped points on the 26th matchday in the Bundesliga as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday

After five Bundesliga victories in a row, FC Bayern once again dropped points. Vincent Kompany’s team drew 1-1 at Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga’s top match. However, the record champions finished the game with a double deficit

Kane only on the bench – Ulreich in goal

Vincent Kompany was forced to reshuffle his team due to injury after the 6-1 defeat in Bergamo, with Sven Ulreich and Lennart Karl replacing the injured Jonas Urbig (concussion) and Serge Gnabry (bench) in the starting line-up

Top scorer Harry Kane was once again only on the bench

Garcia shocks Bayern early on, Jackson sent off

photo: Getty Images

Bayern did not get off to a good start in the match. After Diaz lost possession, Leverkusen switched quickly and the ball ended up with Aleix Garcia, who gave the Werkself a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute. The Spaniard’s shot was slightly deflected by Jonathan Tah and was therefore unstoppable for Ulreich

It took Kompany’s side a few minutes to recover from the shock, but they took control of the game from the 15th minute onwards. Scoring chances were in short supply, however. In the 26th minute, the ball rolled into the Leverkusen goal. Bayern’s jubilation at Tah’s supposed equaliser did not last long, however, as the VAR intervened and conceded the goal due to a handball immediately before the goal

Things got hectic again shortly before the break: in the 42nd minute, Jackson brutally tackled Terrier in the center circle. Referee Christian Dingert initially decided on a yellow card. The VAR intervened again. Dingert looked at the scene again and showed Jackson the red card after the on-field review

Outnumbered and trailing 1-0, the team went into the half-time break

VAR concedes Kane goal, Diaz equalizes and is sent off early

photo: IMAGO

After the break, Bayern immediately pressed for an equalizer despite being short-handed. In the 52nd minute, Luis Diaz found himself in front of Blaswich, but the Colombian slipped when finishing and sent the ball well over the goal

Bayern were celebrating again in the 61st minute when Harry Kane slid the ball into the Leverkusen goal just seconds after coming on as a substitute. But the VAR intervened once again. Dingert had to look at the scene again on the pitch and once again ruled a handball. Kane had received the ball on the arm of Blaswich’s clearance

Munich stepped up the pressure again in the closing stages and this opened up more space for Bayer, with Poku putting a ball just wide of the goal in the 66th minute

At the other end, Diaz scored Bayern’s deserved equalizer in the 69th: After a misplaced pass from Andrich, Olise played a perfect pass to Diaz, who kept his cool in front of Blaswich and slotted into the right-hand corner from around 12 metres

Things got hectic again in the final minutes: In the 86th minute, Diaz was brought down in the Leverkusen penalty area. Dingert decided on a penalty and yellow card, although Diaz was slightly touched by Bayer keeper Blaswich. It was the second yellow card for the FCB attacker and he had to leave the field early

Bayern fought back to avoid defeat in double-overtime. In stoppage time, the ball was once again in the Munich goal. However, the VAR intervened again and annulled the goal. Hofmann was offside before he scored

In the end, it remained a 1:1 draw

FC Bayern will continue their Champions League campaign next week when they host Atalanta Bergamo at home in the Allianz Arena on Wednesday (March 18) for the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie.