After winning 16 games in a row, Bayern Munich stumbled for the first time this season on Saturday. The defending Bundesliga champions twice came from behind to clinch a 2-2 draw against Union Berlin on matchday 10 of the Bundesliga.
Vincent Kompany made only one change to the team that started against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday. Leon Goretzka replaced Aleksandar Pavlovic in the central midfield.
The hosts ensured Bayern didn’t get a fast start like they had in most games this campaign. Union Berlin looked more threatening in the early exchanges, while Bayern looked toothless in the attack. The home side had the ball in the net in the 10th minute through Ilyas Ansah, but VAR intervened and ruled it out for offside.
Bayern dominated possession, but Union Berlin looked more threatening and dangerous in the final third. The hosts deservedly got the lead in the 27th minute through Danilho Doekhi. Manuel Neuer didn’t cover himself in glory as it should have been a straightforward save. Doekhi’s half volley was struck sweetly, but it was straight at Neuer. The German goalkeeper let the ball pass through his hands.
The goal from Union Berlin woke up Bayern. The passing and pace of the game improved for Die Roten. Luis Diaz came up with a moment of magic before the half-time whistle to level the score. The Colombian worked hard to keep the ball from going outside and hammered it past the keeper from an acute angle.
Harry Kane had the ball in the net at the end of first half, but the English forward was immediately flagged as offside. An evenly contested first half was fittingly ended 1-1.
Bayern looked toothless in second half
Diaz’s incredible moment of magic should have been the trigger for Bayern to gain control of the game. However, the second half followed the same trend, where hosts looked more likely to get the next goal in the game.
Union Berlin did a fine job in terms of keeping Bayern’s attacking quartet quiet for long phases of the game. The brave defending and dogged approach in the attack reaped benefits for the host in the final ten minutes of the game. Union Berlin went ahead in the 83rd minute through another set-piece. Kane failed to head the ball away from goal, and his clearance dropped kindly for Doekhi. The Dutch center-back hammered the ball home to put Berlin ahead for the second time in the game.
It looked certain that Bayern were inching toward their first defeat of the season. However, Kane had other ideas as he was eager to make up for his mistake in Berlin’s second goal. In the third minute of added time, Kane managed to beat his marker and head the ball past the goalkeeper. It was a brilliant cross from Tom Bischof from the left flank.
Bayern ended up rescuing a point. The winning run came to an end for Bayern and Kompany. The performance on Saturday certainly didn’t deserve a win, but the team dug deep and ensured they came to Munich with a point.