Reds held by stubborn Wolfsburg

FC Bayern drew 2-2 with VfL Wolfsburg despite dominating Friday night's encounter for long spells and holding a 2-0 lead at half-time. Robert Lewandowski put Bayern in front from the spot after the half-hour, Arjen Robben doubling the lead from distance before half-time. Wolfsburg's Maximilian Arnold pulled one back ten minutes into the second half before Daniel Didavi levelled the scores in the closing stages.

The Bavarians started with Sven Ulreich in goal and Joshua Kimmich, Jérôme Boateng, Mats Hummels and Rafinha in a back four. Arturo Vidal and Sebastian Rudy featured in a twin holding role behind Thomas Müller. The native Bavarian wearing the armband was flanked by Robben and Franck Ribéry, with Lewandowski as an orthodox centre-forward.

Carlo Ancelotti made five changes to the team that saw off Schalke on Tuesday. Hummels and Boateng replaced Niklas Süle and Javi Martínez, with Vidal taking over from Corentin Tolisso in midfield and Robben and Ribéry from James and Kingsley Coman out wide.

Lewy from the spot, Arjen from distance

The 75,000 full house at the Allianz Arena saw the record champions go straight onto the front foot, creating a string of corners but to no avail. The hard-running Wolves resisted sternly, Bayern failing to find space against the disciplined visitors. After the half-hour Lewandowski received the ball in the box but was upended. The Poland captain stepped up and kept his cool against visiting netminder Koen Casteels, netting the ensuing spot-kick.

That could have opened the floodgates, but the visitors refused to crumble, the men from Munich increasingly resorting to shots from distance. However, that ploy paid off shortly before the interval, when Robben found the net from 25 yards with the aid of a deflection off Rafinha.

Wolves level despite FCB chances

The Reds almost closed out the meeting straight after half-time, when Robben miscued from 15 yards. The away side soon showed they had not gone absent without leave, Guilavogui missing a header, but the Wolves soon found the net from a set-piece, when Arnold netted from 30 yards via Ulreich's fingertips.

Vidal's brilliant through-ball then found Robben, but the Dutchman fired wide. Ancelotti played his first joker, Tolisso taking over from Vidal. Robben drew a fine save from Casteels before a cunning Müller backheel found Ribéry in the box, but the Frenchman skied the ball. Below-par FCB were duly punished for those misses when Didavi levelled with a header ten minutes from time. James and Coman replaced Robben and Ribéry but a late winner was not forthcoming, and Hummels' miscued header with the final whistle imminent meant Bayern lost a two-goal lead for the first time in three and a half years, when they drew 3-3 with Hoffenheim after leading 3-1 at half-time.

The result means the Reds remain second in the standings overnight on 13 points from six matches. The men from Munich are back in action on Wednesday, when they travel to face Paris Saint-Germain in a mouth-watering Champions League cracker before facing Hertha Berlin in the Bundesliga next Sunday.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen