FC Bayern were held to a 1-1 draw by Union Berlin on Saturday afternoon. Bayern were dominant throughout but struggled against Union’s solid defence. Jamal Musiala put Bayern in front midway through the second half, but Marcus Ingvartsen snatched a late equaliser for the men from the capital.
The Bavarians lined up with Manuel Neuer in goal and Bouna Sarr, Jérôme Boateng, Javi Martínez and Josip Stanisic in a back four. Joshua Kimmich and Tiago Dantas featured in a twin holding role behind Jamal Musiala, Thomas Müller and Kingsley Coman, with Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting up front. Coman picked up a knock in the first half, Leroy Sané taking over at half-time. David Alaba, Benjamin Pavard, Christopher Scott and Tanguy Nianzou replaced Choupo-Moting, Boateng, Dantas and Musiala in the second half.
No way through
Bayern dominated proceedings from the off but proved uninspired up front against Union’s packed defence. Musiala fired over the bar from a tight angle, Choupo-Moting seeing an effort deflected behind. Keeper Andreas Luthe only just beat Choupo-Moting to a through-ball and denied Müller’s rebound. Musiala blasted just wide before Neuer proved equal to a Marius Bülter header.
Munich set up camp in Union’s half now but ran up vainly against the rock of the away side’s defence. A Müller shot was blocked and Luthe beat Choupo-Moting to a Müller pass, and the contest was goalless at half-time.
Late setback
The match entered a scrappy phase after the restart. Boateng drew a save from Luthe before Stanisic headed over. Bayern upped the pressure again, Sané firing wide from a narrow angle, although Max Kruse soon miscued a volley at the other end.
Sané sidestepped an opponent only to blast over the bar, but Musiala scored the opener when a Kimmich free-kick resulted in a mix-up in the box, with Müller teeing up Musiala, who wriggled clear and beat Luthe from short distance. Union went looking for an equaliser now but Bayern seemed to be in control, but a setback came when Union took a quick throw-in, Robert Andrich beating Nianzou to the ball and squaring to Ingvartsen, who slotted in. Alaba curled inches over from the edge of the box, and Bayern and Union shared the spoils.
The result means Bayern have 65 points from 28 matches, seven clear of Leipzig, who beat Bremen. The Bavarians will be back in action on Tuesday, when they travel to face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-final return leg.
Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen
