Bayern Munich’s hopes of extending their lead at the top of the Bundesliga were dashed on Saturday, as they were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Borussia Dortmund. The result came after Bayer Leverkusen, their closest rivals, dropped points earlier in the day, drawing 0-0 with Union Berlin.
Bayern, knowing that a win would move them further ahead in the title race, struggled to capitalize on Leverkusen’s slip-up. Dortmund, despite sitting far behind in the standings, put up a strong fight at the Allianz Arena. After a scoreless first half, the match came to life in the second period.
Maximilian Beier gave Dortmund the lead in the 48th minute, scoring a header that squeezed through the legs of Bayern goalkeeper Jonas Urbig. The visitors seemed to be in control at that point, with Bayern unable to find the back of the net during the first 45 minutes, despite having several chances. Dortmund’s goalkeeper, Gregor Kobel, was forced into action, saving attempts from Harry Kane and Michael Olise.
However, Bayern quickly responded, scoring two goals within a four-minute span. Serge Gnabry played a key role, creating the equalizer for Raphael Guerreiro in the 65th minute, before finding the back of the net himself just four minutes later. Gnabry’s solo effort, where he weaved through the Dortmund defense, was a highlight for Bayern.
Dortmund wasn’t done yet, though. In the 75th minute, Waldemar Anton pounced on a rebound from Serhou Guirassy’s shot, making it 2-2. Both teams pushed for a winner in the final stages, but neither side was able to find another goal.
Despite the draw, Bayern Munich remains in a strong position to secure the Bundesliga title. They are six points ahead of second-placed Leverkusen with just five games remaining in the season. However, Bayern’s defensive options are limited, with center-back Kim Min-Jae substituted in the second half due to an ongoing Achilles injury. This leaves Bayern with only one fully fit central defender ahead of their crucial Champions League match against Inter Milan on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen’s title hopes took another blow as they were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw at home to Union Berlin. Despite the return of star midfielder Florian Wirtz, Leverkusen struggled to break down Union’s defense. The draw further complicates their chances of defending their title, and captain Lukas Hradecky acknowledged the challenge, noting, “Mathematically there’s a small chance (of defending the title), but the probability has decreased.”
Other Bundesliga results saw Borussia Monchengladbach’s European hopes take a hit with a 2-1 loss to Freiburg. The late winner from Johan Manzambi moved Freiburg up to sixth in the table. In contrast, Augsburg continued their strong run with a 2-1 victory over Bochum, while Hoffenheim secured a vital 2-0 win over Mainz, with Andrej Kramaric scoring both goals for the hosts.
