Bayern battle back to point in Augsburg

FC Bayern were held to a 2-2 draw by Augsburg in Saturday’s Bavarian derby. Robin Fellhauer handed the home side an early lead, with Ismael Saibari levelling the scores after half-time. Rodrigo Ribeiro restored Augsburg’s advantage before Nathaniel Brown equalised with ten minutes to go. Bayern had four goals ruled out for offside, but it was not to be for the dominant champions.

Munich started with Manuel Neuer in goal and Josip Stanišić, Dayot Upamecano, Jonathan Tah and Alphonso Davies in a back four. Aleksandar Pavlović and Joshua Kimmich anchored a midfield featuring Michael Olise, Saibari and Luis Díaz, with Harry Kane up front. Brown, Serge Gnabry, Tom Bischof and Lennart Karl came on for Stanišić, Saibari, Pavlović and Díaz in the second half.

Early setback

Munich conceded the earliest goal in Bundesliga history when Neuer took a heavy touch and Fellhauer knocked the ball into the empty goal with not even nine seconds played. Bayern quickly regained their composure and dominated proceedings, but clear-cut chances were few and far between.

Kane fired over and miscued a header, with Bayern seeing a number of shots blocked. Augsburg’s Juma Bah miscued from short range before Pavlović’s cross found Kane, who hit the bar on the stroke of half-time.

Action-packed second half

Bayern soon had the ball in the back of the net, but Díaz’s sideways scissor kick was ruled out for offside on review. Vincent Kompany’s men did level when Kane invited Saibari to fire home. Bayern pressed for a second, but it was the home side who restored their lead, with Neuer parrying against Calvin Brackelmann and Ribeiro mopping up the rebound.

Both Gnabry and Díaz found the net, but both goals were chalked off for offside. Kane saw a header saved, but Munich finally equalised again when Kane squared from the left for Brown to slot home. A winner seemed only a matter of time now, but Gnabry hit the post and saw the rebound saved. Olise saw another effort denied and Karl miscued before Gnabry knocked the ball over the line late into added time, but the flag was up yet again as the Bavarian derby ended in a draw.

Bayern will be back in action on Tuesday when they travel to face Viking in the Champions League.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen