Reds salvage draw thanks to stunning fightback

FC Bayern drew 3-3 against Arminia Bielefeld on Monday evening. Michel Vlap and Amos Pieper handed the clinical visitors a two-goal lead in the first half, Robert Lewandowski pulling one back early after half-time, but Christian Gebauer scored for Arminia seconds later. Bayern upped the pressure, and Corentin Tolisso and Alphonso Davies found the net to rescue a point for the world champions.

The Bavarians started with Manuel Neuer in goal, Bouna Sarr, Niklas Süle, Lucas Hernández and Alphonso Davies in a back four, Corentin Tolisso and David Alaba in defensive midfield, Leroy Sané and Kingsley Coman out wide, and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting tucked in behind Robert Lewandowski. Joshua Kimmich took over from Sarr early in the second half.

Caught cold

Bayern dominated possession but the tricky conditions in wintry Munich stifled their smooth passing rhythms in the first half. Choupo-Moting warmed the gloves of Arminia keeper Stefan Ortega, but a setback came when Manuel Prietl set up the unmarked Vlap, who beat Neuer from the edge of the box.

Ortega beat Tolisso to a Sané cross and denied Choupo-Moting, but Bayern's task of maintaining their strong run took on challenging proportions when Pieper doubled Bielefeld's lead, heading in from a corner.

Scorching second half

Bayern hit the ground running after the interval, an Alaba through-ball finding Lewandowski, who shone with a brilliant first touch and blasted home on the spin. But the visitors replied immediately, Andreas Voglsammer charging down the left and inviting Gebauer to tap in from close range. Bayern narrowed the deficit again, Sané's pinpoint cross finding Tolisso, who headed home.

Ortega denied Coman before Sané saw an effort blocked, Ortega saving Lewandowski's rebound. But another goal was coming and arrived when a Sané cross was deflected, Davies running onto the loose ball and crashing home from ten yards. Ortega parried a Lewandowski effort before the striker headed the rebound wide. Arminia's Sergio Córdova had the ball in the back of the net but the goal was ruled out for offside. Both sides had half-chances in the closing stages but failed to make them count, and match official Florian Badstübner blew for full-time.

The result means Bayern have 49 points from 21 matches, five clear of Leipzig. The Bavarians will be back in action on Saturday, when they travel to face Eintracht Frankfurt.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen