bundesliga

Exequiel Palacios snatches late point for Bayer Leverkusen at Bayern Munich

17.09.2023

Harry Kane scored his fourth goal of the season but it was not enough for Bayern Munich to beat Bayer Leverkusen, who took a point in a 2-2 draw after thrilling late drama at the Allianz Arena in the Matchday 4 curtain-raiser.

Bayern Munich 2-2 Bayer Leverkusen
Goals: 1-0 Kane (7'), 1-1 Grimaldo (24'), 2-1 Goretzka 86' (assist: Tel), 2-2 Palacios (pen. 90'+4)

Following a minute’s silence in honour of the victims of natural disasters in Morocco and Libya, Matchday 4 got under way at a frenetic pace. Bayern made all the early running as they pinned their visitors inside their own half and swiftly took the lead when Kane reacted brilliantly to a corner that was flicked on at the near post, nodding in at the back to open the scoring. Leverkusen gradually grew into the game, however, and after Florian Wirtz narrowly missed connecting with Jonas Hofmann’s teasing cross, Alejandro Grimaldo brought Xabi Alonso’s men level with a superb direct free-kick from 25 yards, dipping the ball over the wall and into the top corner. Victor Boniface subsequently hit the side netting and a Thomas Müller header drew a fine save from Lukas Hradecky as a breathless first half came to an end.

There was more of the same after the interval, with Leverkusen very much now on an even footing with the defending champions. Hradecky made another outrageous stop to keep his side in the game, thwarting Kane with his foot when the England captain looked certain to score. Wirtz had Leverkusen’s best chance in the closing stages, shifting his weight brilliantly before squeezing a shot past Sven Ulreich, only to see his strike the base of the far post. Ulreich came off his line to deny Boniface moments later as both teams sought a winner, creating a thrilling finale. Leon Goretzka thought he had won it when he swept in Mathys Tel’s cross in the 86th minute, but Exequiel Palacios salvaged a point in stoppage time from the penalty spot after Alphonso Davies had bundled over Hofmann, keeping Leverkusen stop of the table on goal difference.

Watch: Moment's silence for Morocco and Libya

Match stats

Bayern have now scored at least once in each of their last 59 consecutive Bundesliga home games. They last drew a blank in February 2020 against RB Leipzig.
Kane equalled a Bayern club record of scoring four goals in his first four games, joining Gerd Müller, Miroslav Klose and Paolo Guerrero in doing so.
A Leroy Sane corner led to a goal in the Bundesliga for the first time ever.
Grimaldo scored his maiden Bundesliga goal.
Leverkusen netted their first goal from a free-kick since 9 November 2022 when Nadiem Amiri hit the target with a direct effort against Cologne.
After 27 competitive games (and 20 in the Bundesliga) without a goal, Goretzka found the net once again.

Get Kane for your Fantasy team for 15.9M!

Bundesliga 60: Vote for the best Bundesliga goalkeepers of all time!

Teams

Bayern: Ulreich - Laimer (De Ligt 85'), Upamecano, Kim, Davies - Kimmich (Mazraoui 61'), Goretzka - Sane, Müller (c) (Musiala 61'), Gnabry (Tel 69') - Kane (Choupo-Moting 85')
Unused subs: Peretz, Sarr, Krätzig, Fukui,
Out: Coman (muscular complaints), Guerreiro (calf), Neuer (broken leg)
Coach: Thomas Tuchel

Leverkusen: Hradecky (c) - Kossounou, Tah, Tapsoba (Hlozek 90') - Frimpong (Adli 82'), Andrich (Palacios 46'), Xhaka, Grimaldo - Hofmann (Hincapie 90'+6), Wirtz (Amiri 90'+6) - Boniface
Unsed subs: Kovar, Lomb, Puerta, Tella
Out: Arthur (thigh), Fosu-Mensah (knee), Mbamba (knee), Schick (groin)
Coach: Xabi Alonso