Bayern Munich Held 2-2 By Hamburg As Bundesliga Title Race reignites

Bayern Munich dropped points for the second consecutive week in the Bundesliga, drawing 2-2 with Hamburg on Saturday. Borussia Dortmund have a chance to reignite the title race with a win at home against bottom club Heidenheim on Sunday, which would narrow the gap to six points.

Hamburg, who had lost 17 and drawn three of their last 20 games against Bayern, challenged the defending champions by taking the lead with a Fabio Vieira penalty in the 32nd minute.

Bayern responded with goals from Harry Kane and Luis Diaz on either side of half-time, but Hamburg quickly equalised through Luka Vuskovic. Hamburg nearly clinched victory late in the game as Manuel Neuer was far outside his box, but Alphonso Davies thwarted Vieira and secured a draw for Bayern with a desperate

clearance.

This match marked Hamburg’s first time avoiding defeat against Bayern since 2014, ending a streak of nine straight losses with 39 goals conceded. Arsenal loanee Vieira scored the penalty under Neuer’s outstretched hand, giving Hamburg their first goal against Bayern in seven matches since 2016.

Kane levelled the score just before the break with a classic poacher’s finish from a rebound. Diaz, a half-time substitute, put Bayern ahead 90 seconds into the second half by steering a Michael Olise pass home. However, Vuskovic soon headed a cross past Neuer to equalise and secure a valuable point for Hamburg.

Elsewhere, Andrej Kramaric scored twice as Hoffenheim extended their strong run with a 3-1 home win over Union Berlin. Hoffenheim narrowly escaped relegation last season but have collected 19 of a possible 21 points in their last seven games, moving level with second-placed Dortmund. Bayern will host Hoffenheim next Sunday, and Kramaric told Sky Germany: “We’re up for it — it’ll be a great test. If we keep up the performances we’ve had in the past few weeks, we won’t leave empty-handed.”

Union Berlin’s rise to mid-table this season has been driven by a solid defence, but their resistance faltered when defender Leopold Querfeld fouled Hoffenheim’s Fisnik Asllani in the box. Kramaric coolly converted the penalty with a chipped finish and then headed in a second goal from a Bazoumana Toure cross just before half-time. Another Toure cross led to Union’s Diogo Leite inadvertently scoring an own goal as Kramaric lurked nearby, sealing Hoffenheim’s victory just after the break.

Bayer Leverkusen moved a point behind fourth-placed Leipzig with a 3-1 win over struggling Eintracht Frankfurt, who are without a coach until Albert Riera takes over next week.

The hosts finished with ten men. Arthur scored his first Bundesliga goal for Leverkusen after a clever Alejandro Grimaldo backheel, while Malik Tillman capitalised on poor positioning from Frankfurt goalkeeper Kaua Santos to double the lead. Robin Koch’s goal just after half-time gave Frankfurt a glimmer of hope, but Ellyes Skhiri received two yellow cards in three second-half minutes.

Frankfurt have won only one of their past 13 games in all competitions. Riera was named coach in a surprise appointment on Friday but will not arrive until Monday. Mario Goetze said, “We’ll be starting from zero, step by step.”

In other matches, RB Leipzig fell 2-1 at home to resurgent Mainz after taking the lead. Conrad Harder scored for Leipzig, but captain David Raum conceded a penalty for the second time in two games, allowing Germany midfielder Nadiem Amiri to equalise. Silas put Mainz ahead early in the second half. Mainz have lost just once in nine games since Urs Fischer took over as coach in December.

Augsburg defeated St Pauli 2-1, while Werder Bremen’s Keke Topp secured a 1-1 draw with Borussia Moenchengladbach by scoring a splendid late goal.

(With AFP Inputs)