Sunday December 01, 2024

Musiala salvages draw for Bayern in Dortmund, Leipzig collapse

Published : 01 Dec 2024, 00:59

  By John Bagratuni, dpa
Jamal Musiala. File Photo: Xinhua.

Jamal Musiala headed a late equalizer as leaders Bayern Munich overcame a Harry Kane injury to draw 1-1 at Borussia Dortmund on Saturday and remain unbeaten in the Bundesliga season.

League top scorer Kane went off in the 33rd with a so far undisclosed problem, six minutes after Dortmund had taken the lead from a sensational Jamie Gittens solo.

But Dortmund's 100% season record at home across all competitions ended when Musiala headed home with five minutes left.

Bayern dropped their first points and goal after seven wins without conceding in all competitions.

They are seven points clear of Eintracht Frankfurt who can draw within four with victory at Heidenheim on Sunday. Dortmund are 10 points behind Bayern in fifth.

"Our first half wasn't the way we wanted to play but we then started well into the second. We created good chances and getting a point was good. Unfortunately we did not win," Musiala told Sky TV.

Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck said: "The draw is OK but you want to win if you lead for so long. But the team did a super job."

Musiala's Germany attacking partner Florian Wirtz was also a factor when he came off the bench to set up Patrik Schick to lift champions Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 at Union Berlin.

Leverkusen moved into third ahead of RB Leipzig, whose recent slide reached a new level when they conceded three times in the opening 16 minutes en route to their biggest Bundesliga home defeat, 5-1 against Wolfsburg.

A sixth game without victory adds to the pressure on their Leipzig-born coach Marco Rose.

Elsewhere, Freiburg defeated Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-1, Werder Bremen and VfB Stuttgart drew 2-2, and Augsburg beat winless bottom club Bochum 1-0.

St Pauli Hamburg beat Holstein Kiel 3-1 on Friday, and the other Sunday game is Mainz v Hoffenheim.

Bayern fight back in Dortmund

The big match in Dortmund known as Der Klassiker did not disappoint, with Bayern dominating early possession. Dortmund lost defender Waldemar Anton and Kane then also limped off later in the half.

By then Dortmund had taken the lead from England U21 international Gittens who took up a long Schlotterbeck pass, outran Konrad Laimer on the right and fired into the top far corner over the head of Manuel Neuer.

Bayern stepped up their efforts after the break, with goalkeeper Gregor Kobel denying Kane's replacement Thomas Müller after nice work from Musiala who was now a constant threat.

Musiala and Leroy Sane shot narrowly wide but Dortmund also threatened, with Gittens blocked at the last instance by Laimer and Neuer making a crucial save against Marcel Sabitzer.

Munich eventually got the equalizer when Musiala headed Michael Olise's cross into the bottom left corner.

Looking at Kane's injury, Bayern coach Vincent Kompany said there was not yet a diagnosis but that Kane said "it is not so serious."

Leverkusen don't stumble in Berlin

Bayern face another big match on Tuesday in the German Cup against holders Leverkusen, who needed Wirtz to come on after getting some rest to get full points at Union.

Leverkusen had a dream start when Jeremie Frimpong delivered off Alejandro Grimaldo after a long ball from their half two minutes into the game.

Union were level after half an hour to end a goal drought after 322 minutes, with Jeong Wooyeong volleying home. But Wirtz' cross from the right was converted by Schick with his chest for the 71st-minute winner.

"We said that we would play with not too much risk. We were a little bit better and got a deserved victory," Leverkusen goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky said.

Wolfsburg all over Leipzig

Wolfsburg meant business from the kick-off and were ahead in the fourth when Mohamed Amoura converted Ridle Baku's cross. Thiago Tomas made it 2-0 a minute later with a deflected shot and Amoura then grabbed the third with a shot from a right angle in the 16th.

Wolfsburg could have easily scored more before the break before Joakim Mähle headed the fourth in the 64th, and Kevin Behrens then iced Wolfsburg's third win in a row after Willi Orban's consolation effort.

"We wanted a lot but you can see that we are lacking in many areas. We don't have enough players who reach their level and take responsibility. We have too many injured players and too many matches," Rose said.