Perfect Bayern Bundesliga start ended by reigning champions Leverkusen

Aleksander Pavlovic cancelled out a Robert Andrich strike as Bayern Munich’s 100% start was halted by champions Leverkusen in Munich.

Vincent Kompany’s men went into this Oktoberfest fixture with high hopes of making it five wins from five, but were stunned by Robert Andrich’s opener on the half hour mark, which silenced the 75,000 in the Allianz Arena. The home side didn’t have long to wait to restore parity, as Pavlovic unleashed a volley that left Lukas Hradecky rooted to the spot.

Neither side could make a breakthrough after the break, though Bayern Munich pressed for a winner and Serge Gnabry came close with a double effort that was saved by post then crossbar.

Bayern remain top of the Bundesliga, with Leverkusen third and Xabi Alonso still remains unbeaten against the team from Munich.

Both sides are next in action in mouth-watering UEFA Champions League ties. Bayer Leverkusen host AC Milan on Tuesday and Bayern Munich head to Villa Park to take on Unai Emery’s Aston Villa on Wednesday.

Much has been made of Bayern’s perfect start to the season under Vincent Kompany – winning all league games and racking up 29 goals in the process.

With Harry Kane going into the match having just broken the goal-scoring record for an Englishman in the Bundesliga, the Bavarian side would have been confident of making it 5 wins from 5.

But things didn’t go quite to plan. Against the run of play Leverkusen opened the scoring through Robert Andrich – while Pavlovic quickly responded to level things up, Leverkusen restricted Bayern to shots from outside the box.

Harry Kane had the sort of night he endured with England at the Euros and was subbed before the end. His only valuable contribution being teeing up Gnabry on the edge of the 6-yard box early in the second half.

Alonso’s men will be pleased with their defensive display and that they leave Munich with a point, after not offering much offensively themselves. They will hope that the likes of Victor Boniface and Florian Wirtz will be more of a threat against AC Milan next week in the Champions League.

Aleksander Pavlovic (Bayern Munich): The 20-year-old showed again why he is such an exciting talent. He scored Bayern’s equaliser in the 39th minute with an unstoppable long-range effort, showing again why he is keeping summer signing Joao Palhinha out of the side.

BAYERN MUNICH: Neuer 6, Guerreiro 6, Upamecano 6, Kim 6, Davies 6, Pavlovic 8, Kimmich 7, Olise 6, Musiala 7, Gnabry 6, Kane 5. Subs: Coman 5, Leroy Sané 6, Laimer 5, Müller n/a

BAYER LEVERKUSEN: Hradecky 6, Tapsoba 6, Tah 6, Hincapié 6, Frimpong 5, Xhaka 6, Andrich 6, Grimaldo 5, Terrier 5, Wirtz 5, Boniface 5. Subs: Adli 5, Tella 5, Belocian n/a

21′ CLOSE! Former Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise takes the free-kick and bends it over the wall but it just clips the top netting.

31′ GOAL! – BAYERN MUNICH 0-1 BAYER LEVERKUSEN: (ANDRICH) What was that about no threat? Leverkusen win their first corner, it gets cleared to the edge of the area and Andrich drills a thunderous shot just inside Neuer’s right-hand post.

39′ GOAL! – BAYERN MUNICH 1-1 BAYER LEVERKUSEN: (PAVLOVIC) Pavlovic unleashes from 25 metres out that just dips underneath the crossbar, leaving Hradecky with no chance.

47′ BAYERN HIT THE POST AND CROSSBAR! Harry Kane delivers a perfect cross from out wide that finds Serge Gnabry in the box at the far post. He side-foots it across the goal and hits the far upright before it comes back to him for another chance that he can only guide onto the crossbar.

90+4 LAIMER GOES CLOSE Another well-taken shot from outside the area that curls past the post.