Reds held by battling Augsburg

FC Bayern were held to a 1-1 draw by FC Augsburg in the all-Bavaria derby on Tuesday evening. Arjen Robben put Bayern in front shortly after half-time, but former Munich man Felix Götze levelled the scores in the closing stages.

The German record champions started with Manuel Neuer in goal and Joshua Kimmich, Niklas Süle, Mats Hummels and Leon Goretzka in a back four. Javi Martínez filled the holding role behind Arjen Robben, Thomas Müller, Renato Sanches and Serge Gnabry, with Sandro Wagner as lone striker. David Alaba took over from Goretzka at half-time, Franck Ribéry and Thiago replacing Gnabry and Wagner midway through the second half.

Augsburg spring a surpise

The 75,000 capacity crowd at the Allianz Arena saw the hosts struggle against Augsburg's aggressive pressing at first. The first chance fell to the visitors, Caiuby ghosting past the rearguard, but Neuer proved equal to his effort. Müller soon had a chance at the other end, seeing his shot from a tight angle deflected and crashing off the post before the very industrious Sanches fired wide. Augsburg worked tirelessly without the ball but failed to do anything special when they had it, and chances proved few and far between for the next 20 minutes.

Bayern upped the pressure after the half-hour, Wagner glancing a header over the bar before Augsburg netminer Andreas Luthe saved from Sanches. The Portugal international miscued another shot before Luthe made strong saves to deny two Wagner efforts and a Gnabry shot.

Late twist

The German record champions kept up the high pressure after the interval and were soon rewarded. Gnabry charged down the middle and set up Robben, who blasted into the roof of the net. Sanches drew another save from Luthe before Augsburg recovered their composure, stifling Bayern's passing combinations again.

The champions did have the ball in the back of the net for a second time with ten minutes to go, but Ribéry's goal was denied by the linesman's offside flag. The visitors soon levelled the scores against the run of play, Götze chesting the ball in from point-blank range following a mix-up in the Bayern box. FCB went looking for a reply, but Thiago's header following a fine Müller cross went over the bar, and match official Sören Storks blew for full-time.

Bayern will be back in action in just three days, when they travel to face Hertha Berlin before entertaining Ajax in the Champions League next Tuesday.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen