Below-par Reds held by Augsburg

FC Bayern were held to a 2-2 draw by FC Augsburg on Saturday afternoon. Marco Richter put the hosts ahead in the first minute, but Robert Lewandowski soon levelled the scores. Bayern were in control after the half-hour and took the lead through Serge Gnabry shortly after the restart. The German record champions had many chances to put the game to bed but another goal refused to come for them. Instead, Alfred Finnbogason had the home crowd on their feet with a stoppage-time equaliser, and Bayern rued their missed chances.

Concern for Süle

The Bavarians started with Manuel Neuer in goal and Joshua Kimmich, Niklas Süle, Benjamin Pavard and Lucas Hernández in a back four. Thiago and Javi Martínez anchored a midfield featuring Gnabry, Philippe Coutinho and Kingsley Coman, with Lewandowski as sole striker. The line-up changed after only ten minutes as Süle had to be subbed off with a knee problem, David Alaba coming on, with Hernández shifting into the middle. Thomas Müller and Leon Goretzka took over from Coutinho and Gnabry in the closing stages.

Early shock

The afternoon began with a shock for the Bavarians, a Rani Khedira header inviting Richter to slot past Neuer. Gnabry miscued from the edge of the box before Richter fired another effort wide, but more bad news came when Süle hobbled off the pitch, holding his knee. Lewandowski levelled the scores when he connected with a Gnabry cross, his header finding the net via the fingertips of keeper Tomas Koubek.

The game entered a scrappy phase now, with chances few and far between. Bayern got a grip after the half-hour, Thiago seeing an effort blocked before Gnabry skied a ball. The latter almost handed Bayern the lead with a sumptuous volley, but it crashed off the post. Thiago saw a shot scrambled off the line before Richter drew a save from Neuer at the other end, and match official Daniel Siebert blew for half-time.

Second-half dominance, late setback

The German record champions went straight back onto the front foot, and Gnabry rewarded their dominance when he cut inside from the right and crashed into the far corner of the net. Coutinho almost netted a third from point-blank range but Koubek made a fine save. Koubek denied Gnabry before Lewandowski miscued a header.

Bayern were intent to close out the meeting, but Augsburg's netminder kept his side in the game when he saved from Gnabry and Coman. With Bayern still on tenterhooks, Augsburg upped the pace in the closing stages, Neuer making a fine save from Philipp Max, but the day turned sour when Finnbogason converted a Sergio Córdova cross.

The result means Bayern have 15 points from eight matches. The Bavarians will be back in action in just three days, when they travel to face Olympiacos in the Champions League before entertaining Union Berlin in the Bundesliga next Saturday.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen