Unlucky Reds held by stubborn Hertha

FC Bayern were held to a 2-2 draw by Hertha Berlin in the Bundesliga restart on Friday evening. Robert Lewandowski handed Bayern a deserved lead, but Hertha's Dodi Lukebakio and Marko Grujic turned the tide against the run of play. Lewandowski converted a penalty on the hour mark, but Bayern's lack of punch meant they shared the spoils with the men from the capital.

The Bavarians started with Manuel Neuer in goal and Joshua Kimmich, Niklas Süle, Benjamin Pavard and David Alaba in a back four. Thomas Müller, Thiago and Corentin Tolisso took up station in midfield, with Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman out wide, looking to serve hitman Lewandowski.

Lewy opens but Hertha turn the tide

The 75,000 full house at the Allianz Arena saw Bayern go straight onto the front foot. Thiago gave notice of their approach when his curler warmed the gloves of visiting keeper Rune Jarstein. Müller fired just wide before Neuer comfortably denied Hertha's Vedad Ibisevic at the other end. Jarstein proved equal to a Müller header, but Lewandowski soon initiated a move deep in midfield. Barely ten seconds and 50 yards later the striker tapped home a Gnabry cross, putting Bayern ahead after putting them in charge.

Lady Luck smiled in the away side's direction when Hertha equalised, Lukebakio firing a shot from distance that only beat Neuer with the help of a deflection. The men from the capital took the lead when Marko Grujic got hold of the ball in an aerial challenge with Pavard, Ibisevic inviting him to round Neuer and mop up.

No winner

Bayern went looking for an equaliser after the restart, Jarstein saving from Coman and Gnabry, but Grujic upended Lewandowski in the box, the Poland international netting the ensuing penalty. Tolisso miscued from 12 yards before Hertha's Ondrej Duda and Bayern's Alaba both hit the wall from free-kicks.

The champions upped the ante in the closing stages, Gnabry firing over the bar. Kovac brought on Renato Sanches and Alphonso Davies for Müller and Gnabry in an effort to raise the momentum, Lewandowski miscuing a header in injury time, but Bayern were unable to find a winner, and match official Harm Osmers blew for full-time.

The Bavarians will be back in action next Saturday, when they travel to face Schalke in the Bundesliga.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen