FC Bayern Munich 2-2 Bayer 04 Leverkusen: Late Exequiel Palacios penalty sees clash end in draw

A penalty deep into added time helped Bayer Leverkusen earn a hard-fought 2-2 draw at Bayern Munich as both teams maintained their unbeaten start to the Bundesliga.

Harry Kane broke the deadlock in the seventh minute – his fourth goal of the season – to give the hosts the lead.

Alex Grimaldo’s wonderful strike from a free-kick pulled Leverkusen level, which they thought was enough for at least a draw in a drama-packed match at the Allianz Arena.

Bayern thought they had stolen a win when Leon Goretzka found space in the box with less than five minutes to go, and steered Mathys Tel’s cross beyond Lukas Hradecky.

But the excitement wasn’t over. Leverkusen won a penalty deep into added time, which Exequiel Palacios converted to snatch a well-deserved point.

Leverkusen and Bayern both had the chance to take a three-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga table with a win, but Leverkusen remain top on goal difference – each on 10 points.

An unmarked Kane got Bayern off to a brilliant start when he latched onto Edmond Tapsoba’s attempted clearance to nod the hosts ahead at the back post.

Bayern were dominant in the opening 20 minutes but the momentum quickly changed when Leverkusen got their first taste of goal. Min-jae Kim blocked a Victor Boniface shot before Grimaldo sensationally struck from a free-kick to level.

But Leverkusen wanted more, and they nearly got it. Boniface – who caused Bayern problems throughout the first half – had the ball in the net after he slotted past Sven Ulreich, but he’d made his run behind the Bayern defence too early.

There was more drama in the second half when Boniface came close to putting his side ahead with a shot from the halfway line but was just off target.

Both teams had plenty of chances. Boniface and Florian Wirtz caused problems for Leverkusen, while Hradecky was called into action throughout to keep Bayern at bay.

As the game edged to its conclusion, Goretzka swept an effort home to finally get the better of Hradecky after the early Kane goal, and Bayern thought they had the game wrapped up.

But Leverkusen’s persistence paid off and they were awarded a penalty three minutes into stoppage time when Alphonso Davis brought down Jonas Hofmann – and Palacios calmly converted.

Bayern thought they might have scored another winner after the allotted five minutes of additional time when Dayot Upamecano fount the back of the net, but he was ruled offside.

Both teams came into this game with a perfect start to life in the Bundesliga, and Leverkusen will certainly be the happier team leaving Munich with both sides having lost their 100% records.

There were chances for Leverkusen to snatch the win, and perhaps they should have, but they will be satisfied with a point against the reigning champions after the way the second half went, especially away from home, after a brilliant start to the season

This could have quite easily have gone to Boniface who was exceptional at times and caused lots of problems for Bayern, but he wasn’t clinical enough with his eight shots.

Someone who was clinical was Grimaldo, who executed his free-kick perfectly in the first half to draw the visitors level. He was the most creative player on the pitch crafting three chances, and was a handful alongside Boniface and Florian Wirtz.

BAYERN: Ulreich 6, Laimer 7, Upamecano 7, Kim 7, Davies 6, Kimmich 7, Goretzka 8, Sane 7, Muller 7, Gnabry 6, Kane 7

Subs: De Ligt N/A, Mazraoui 6, Choupo-Moting N/A, Tel 7, Musiala 6

LEVERKUSEN: Hradecky 7, Kossounou 7, Tah 6, Tapsoba 7, Frimpong 7, Andrich 6, Xhaka 7, Grimaldo 8, Hofmann 7, Wirtz 7, Boniface 7

Subs: Hincapie N/A, Amiri N/A, Palacios 8, Adli N/A, Hlozek N/A

7’ – GOAL!! BAYERN MUNICH 1-0 BAYER LEVERKUSEN (KANE) – Bayern take a corner which is first met by Edmond Tapsoba at the front post, but he can only flick the ball backwards and across the six-yard box, where Kane is free at the back post to nod it home. It’s Kane’s fourth league goal of the season. What a start for the hosts!

24’ – GOAL!! BAYERN MUNICH 1-1 BAYER LEVERKUSEN (GRIMALDO) – It’s Grimaldo who is fouled by Muller in the first place as they both stick their legs out to win a loose ball. Muller makes contact first though, which left Grimaldo to tee the ball up and plant it in the top corner to equalise!

33’ – THE BALL IS IN THE BAYERN NET AGAIN! But Boniface has made his run too early! He runs in behind the Bayern defence before slotting the ball past Ulreich but the flag goes up. Moments earlier he had another shot saved from the Bayern goalkeeper. Leverkusen’s No. 22 is causing Tuchel’s side serious problems!

35’ – BAYERN DENIED TWICE! It’s all happening here! The hosts have a free-kick and Kimmich swings the ball into the box which finds Muller and his low header is saved by Hradecky. Gnabry follows up the rebound but it is sensationally blocked by Tah, with Hradecky helpless on the floor following his initial save.

51’ – BONIFACE COMES SO CLOSE FROM HIS OWN HALF! He collects the ball on the halfway line, sees Ulreich off his line – and goes for it! But the ball sails just over the bar and nestles onto the roof of the net.

78’ – WIRTZ OFF THE POST! Leverkusen come so close to taking the lead! It’s Boniface and Wirtz again who combine in the box before the latter finds himself through on goal and slots his effort across the target but is denied by the foot of the far post.

85’- GOAL!! BAYERN MUNICH 2-1 BAYER LEVERKUSEN (GORETZKA) – Bayern have surely won it! Leon Goretzka puts them into the lead with less than five minutes to go!

90’+3 – LEVERKUSEN HAVE A PENALTY! Jonas Hofmann is clipped by Alphonso Davies and after a quick VAR check, the penalty is given!

90’+5 – GOAL!! BAYERN MUNICH 2-2 BAYER LEVERKUSEN (PALACIOS) – The substitute converts the penalty and Leverkusen have surely snatched a draw!

90’+7 – BAYERN HAVE THE BALL IN THE NET! But Upamecano is offside! Bayern thought they’d won it in sensational fashion.

• Harry Kane has scored four goals in his first four Bundesliga games for FC Bayern – the last player to do so for the Bavarians was Miroslav Klose in 2007.