Bayern and Leverkusen share the spoils

FC Bayern were held to a 2-2 draw by Bayer Leverkusen in Friday evening's top clash. Harry Kane handed Bayern an early lead before Alejandro Grimaldo equalised in the first half. Leon Goretzka restored Munich's lead in a thrilling closing stage, only for Exequiel Palacios to level the scores again from the penalty spot in injury time.

Bayern started with Sven Ulreich in goal and Konrad Laimer, Dayot Upamecano, Minjae Kim and Alphonso Davies in defence. Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich anchored a midfield featuring Leroy Sané, Thomas Müller and Serge Gnabry, with Kane up front. Noussair Mazraoui, Jamal Musiala, Mathys Tel, Matthijs de Ligt and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting came on for Kimmich, Müller, Gnabry, Laimer and Kane in the second half.

Kane opens

The 75,000 capacity crowd at the Allianz Arena saw a top-of-the-table match that lived up to its billing. Bayern hit the ground running and took an early lead when a Sané corner found the unmarked Kane at the far post, the England captain heading home. Sané fired an effort over, but the pendulum started to swing Leverkusen's way, with Laimer making a strong tackle against Florian Wirtz.

Leverkusen were awarded a free-kick, Grimaldo finding the top corner of the net to level the scores. Ulreich denied Victor Boniface before Bayern upped the ante again, and Müller saw a header parried before Gnabry's rebound was blocked. Bayer keeper Lukáš Hrádecký made a string of fine saves to deny Sané and Gnabry before the latter headed wide, keeping the score at 1-1 going into half-time.

Late drama

Boniface tried to catch Ulreich off guard with a shot from the halfway line that landed on the roof of the net. Both goalkeepers came to the fore now, with Ulreich denying Jeremie Frampong, although the lineman's flag was up in any case. Hrádecký made a good save to deny Kane's shot from close range a minute later.

Clear-cut chances were at a premium now, but the game sprang to life again in the closing stages. Wirtz hit the post and Ulreich saved from Boniface, but Tel soon invited the unmarked Goretzka to tap in. Leverkusen were awarded a penalty after a challenge between Jonas Hofmann and Davies in the frantic injury time, Palacios converting. Upamecano found the net even later, but the goal was chalked off for offside as the heavyweight encounter ended in a stalemate.

The result means Munich have ten points from four matches, lying second in the table behind Friday's opponents on goal difference. The Bavarians will be back in action on Wednesday when they entertain Manchester United in the Champions League.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen