MY ACCOUNT
Thomas Muller had three goals disallowed as Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw at Hoffenheim.
Robert Lewandowski headed Bayern level in first-half stoppage time after the hosts snatched a shock lead through Christoph Baumgartner.
The second half was dominated by Bayern, but their finishing was often wasteful, and there was almost a shock for Julian Nagelsmann’s team late on.
Andrej Kramaric had a glorious chance for Hoffenheim as the teams tired, but he could not find a way past Manuel Neuer.
Neuer had earlier made a terrific save from Kramaric in the fifth minute after Hoffenheim sliced through a sleepy Bayern defence, before the visitors went close when Muller’s prodded effort was pushed aside by Oliver Baumann.
Muller thought he had headed Bayern in front just before the half-hour mark, but Serge Gnabry had strayed offside before teeing up his senior team-mate. Muller had a second strike disallowed for another offside soon afterwards.
Hoffenheim snatched the lead in the 32nd minute when Baumgartner volleyed David Raum’s cross from the left past Neuer from close range, but Lewandowski’s thumping header from Kimmich’s right-wing corner brought Bayern back to level terms.
Muller completed a hat-trick of disallowed goals early in the second half, after another offside, as Bayern pushed hard to get ahead.
Serge Gnabry smashed a shot against the left post after dashing clear of the dawdling home defence and shooting across Baumann, while Jamal Musiala failed to convert from a tight angle after going wide of the goalkeeper. Muller then saw a shot squirm through Baumann’s grasp, kept out almost on the line by the elbow of sliding defender Stefan Posch, with nothing given.
Hoffenheim had one last great chance to snatch all three points when Neuer saved superbly from Kramaric’s 12-yard strike, after Jacob Bruun Larsen got free down the right and played a smart cutback.
What does it mean? After seventh heaven, back down to earth for Bayern
Bayern hit seven against Salzburg in the Champions League in midweek, from an expected goals (xG) total of 4.0. Here, their xG was a similarly princely 3.4, but misfiring from their forwards and fine goalkeeping meant the reigning German champions only found the back of the net once.
Given Hoffenheim are in the hunt for a Champions League place, there is no shame in this result for Bayern, who continue to lead the way, now 10 points ahead of a Borussia Dortmund side who have two games in hand.
Neuer to thank
This was rather exhilarating fare, and it truly could have gone either way. As Bayern became increasingly weary, midweek exertions taking their toll, so Hoffenheim’s threat grew in the closing stages.
A further later chance fell to Bruun Larsen, but his header from Ihlas Bebou’s clever cross was too close to Neuer who made a grateful catch. Neuer made five saves in this game, while Baumann made six. The five saves are as many as Neuer has made in any Bundesliga game this season (also five vs RB Leipzig on February 5).
Don’t call it a comeback
Bayern have won 11 points from losing positions in the Bundesliga this season, only Hoffenheim (21) and Cologne (13) have recovered more.
What’s next?
Bayern have a welcome breather before they face Union Berlin next Saturday at the Allianz Arena. Hoffenheim go to Hertha Berlin on the same day.
