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Confusion in the Bavarian penalty area: Thomas Müller (right) scored his own goal
Photo:
IMAGO / IMAGO/MIS
In a game that was spectacular at times, Bayern Munich did not go beyond a 1-1 (1-1) draw against Bayer Leverkusen on the 25th match day of the Bundesliga.
After Niklas Süle had given the record champions the lead (18th minute), Leverkusen became more and more dangerous towards the end of the first half, but it was Bayern striker Thomas Müller who deflected a free-kick into his own goal (36th).
The Russian war against Ukraine was also an issue in the Bundesliga, among other things, the corner flags in the Munich Arena were blue and yellow, the colors of the Ukrainian national flag.
The game needed some momentum to pick up speed.
That was due to superior Bayern and Leverkusen, who rarely managed to relieve the pressure in the early stages.
The opening goal came almost by accident;
After a corner, goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky ran under the ball, and then two defenders got in each other's way.
Süle emerged from the turmoil in Leverkusen and took advantage of the opportunity (18').
Bayer turns up the heat
The Bavarian dominance lasted 30 minutes, the end of which was directly related to a weak phase in their own defence.
After Müller deflected Kerem Demirbay's sharp free-kick into the goal in front of his goalkeeper Sven Ulreich, who was ready to intercept (36'), things got spectacular.
First Amine Adli failed after a bad back pass from Dayot Upamecano on the post of the empty goal (42'), then Adli put the ball wide of the goal on his own in front of Ulreich (43').
Equally promising was the attempt by Charles Aránguiz, who, after a great combination via Jeremy Frimpong and Florian Wirtz, failed due to an equally great save by Ulreich (45').
Serge Gnabry was also dangerous for Bayern again (45 + 1).
The final phase of the first half promised a lot for the second round.
In fact, it became quieter around the penalty areas.
Substitute Marcel Sabitzer missed Bayern's biggest chance by rushing the shot in front of Hradecky (62').
Leverkusen relied on the counterattack, Frimpong failed at Ulreich (88th) with the most promising goal.
Due to Bayern's draw, Dortmund could come within six points, but BVB's game at Mainz 05 was postponed to March 16 due to corona cases at Mainz.
Leverkusen remains third and four points ahead of RB Leipzig, who also played 1-1 against Freiburg in the chasing duel.
(Read all of Saturday's results here.)
hba
