Just three days after an energy-sapping Champions League appointment, Bayern’s makeshift side produced a controlled and disciplined display with plenty of fighting spirit to seal a hard-earned point away to title rivals and northern arch-foes Hamburg.
The 57,000 capacity crowd at the Imtech Arena saw an absorbing first half, with plenty of attacking intent from both teams but no goals. Bayern knuckled down to the task of keeping the home side at bay after the restart and pieced together occasional counter-attacks, although there was a let-off when Jonathan Pitroipa hit the post for HSV nine minutes from time. Despite that, the result was ultimately a fair reflection of the play on the night.
The stalemate means Bayern move up to ninth in the table on 12 points from nine matches, although the weekend Bundesliga programme does not conclude until Sunday. The Bavarians now turn their focus to the DFB Cup and next Tuesday’s re-run of May’s final, when Werder Bremen visit the Allianz Arena in the second round of this season’s competition.
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