Staff Reporter.
Jamal Musiala scored late to save Bayern Munich from its first Bundesliga loss of the season with a 1-1 draw at Borussia Dortmund in “der Klassiker” on Saturday.
Musiala – Bayern’s best attacking threat after Harry Kane went off with a first-half injury – headed the equalizer in the 85th minute after a Bayern free kick. Leroy Sané fired the ball into the Dortmund wall of defenders and Michael Olise sent the loose ball back in for the unmarked Musiala.
Jamie Gittens’ superb solo effort in the first half looked to condemn Vincent Kompany’s side to their first Bundesliga defeat of the season, only for Jamal Musiala to equalise with five minutes left.
What had been a quiet first half in ‘Der Klassiker’ soon sparked into life when Nico Schlotterbeck’s pass down the left found Gittens on the halfway line.
The England Under-21 international turned past Bayern right-back Konrad Laimer and drove into the penalty area before his fizzed left-footed strike was too hard for Bayern’s Manuel Neuer to stop.
In the 27th minute, Gittens became the second Englishman to score in this fixture after Kane, who netted a hat-trick against Dortmund last season.
Bayern’s first half was made worse six minutes later when Bundesliga top scorer and England captain Kane was forced off before half-time. He signalled to be replaced and was moving gingerly, but not as a result of a tackle.
The visitors failed to really test Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel until the second period.
Thomas Muller, who replaced Kane, should have levelled shortly after the restart when teed up at the end of Musiala’s mazy run, but could not beat the outstretched hand of Kobel.
Musiala, who had gone close himself to levelling from distance, did eventually level when heading in a cross from substitute Michael Olise.
The Germany midfielder’s sixth goal in 10 Bundesliga fixtures this term kept Bayern’s unbeaten domestic record intact.
A draw kept them top, seven points clear of Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayer Leverkusen. Frankfurt will cut that lead to four points, though, should they win at Heidenheim on Sunday.
A point for Dortmund moved them up to fifth place, above Freiburg on goal difference.
Kane says injury ‘not that bad’
Speaking after the draw, Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany allayed fears over the severity of Kane’s injury.
England’s all-time record goalscorer, who has started all 12 of Bayern’s Bundesliga matches this season, is hopeful his injury is not serious, but will be a doubt for Tuesday’s German Cup last-16 match against holders Leverkusen.
“Harry said that it wasn’t that bad but he’s going to have to undergo a scan,” said Kompany.
“When it comes to Tuesday it’s going to be incredibly tight – I don’t know many players who can recover that quickly, but we will see.
“The goals scored by Harry Kane are impossible to replace, but we’ve got faith in the whole squad.”
Kane has provided 19 goal contributions in 12 Bundesliga matches this season, one more than any other player.
Wirtz to the rescue
Florian Wirtz again made the difference for Bayer Leverkusen in a 2-1 win at Union Berlin in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso initially rested his star player, but sent Wirtz on for the last half-hour with the score 1-1. Wirtz duly whipped in a brilliant cross for Patrik Schick to score the winner with his chest in the 71st minute.
It was the third straight game that Wirtz has set up a goal in the Bundesliga.
Leipzig humiliated
Leipzig, already five games without a win across all competitions, was humiliated 5-1 at home by Wolfsburg, a defeat that left coach Marco Rose in a tenuous position at the energy drink-backed club.
Wolfsburg piled on the pressure with two goals in two minutes by the fifth minute, before Algerian forward Mohammed Amoura got his second in the 16th.
There were whistles from the home fans after the goals, and again at the break after their team failed to muster a response.
It got worse after the break with Joakim Maehle heading Wolfsburg’s fourth.
Leipzig captain Willi Orban urged his teammates to fight when he pulled one back in the 82nd, but Wolfsburg substitute Kevin Behrens had the final say in stoppage time.
Demirović double
Ermedin Demirović equalized twice for Stuttgart to draw at Werder Bremen 2-2, Freiburg won against visiting Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-1, and Augsburg defeated last-placed Bochum 1-0 at home.
BBC Sport and AP contributed to this article.