Nine-man Bayern Munich survive VAR drama and red cards to secure a 1-1 draw at Bayer Leverkusen, as Borussia Dortmund close the gap in the Bundesliga title race
BAYERN MUNICH held on for a dramatic 1-1 draw at Bayer Leverkusen despite finishing the match with only nine men in a chaotic Bundesliga encounter.
The league leaders saw two goals disallowed and two players sent off but managed to secure a point that keeps them nine points clear at the top.
Second-placed Borussia Dortmund closed the gap slightly with a 2-0 home victory over Augsburg, moving to 58 points with eight games remaining.
Aleix Garcia gave Leverkusen an early lead, finishing a fluid team move by chipping Bayern’s third-choice goalkeeper Sven Ulreich in the sixth minute.
Bayern striker Nicolas Jackson was then shown a straight red card just before half-time for a studs-up challenge on Martin Terrier.
The visitors thought they had equalised twice through Jonathan Tah and substitute Harry Kane, but both efforts were ruled out by VAR for handball.
Luis Diaz finally brought Bayern level in the 69th minute, guiding a precise Michael Olise pass into the net.
The Colombian winger was then shown a second yellow card for simulation after going down in the box under minimal contact from goalkeeper Janis Blaswich.
“It was a poor performance from the referee,” Bayern coach Vincent Kompany told broadcaster DAZN.
“Why he (Diaz) gets a red card, nobody in the stadium knows anymore, it’s insane.”
Playing with nine men for the final stages, Bayern survived as Leverkusen had two late efforts chalked off in stoppage time.
In Dortmund, goals from Karim Adeyemi and 18-year-old defender Luca Reggiani secured a comfortable 2-0 win.
“We really enjoyed it today. We controlled the game,” Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha said.
Promoted Hamburg drew 1-1 at home with Cologne in Saturday’s late game, while Eintracht Frankfurt beat bottom club Heidenheim 1-0.
Wolfsburg’s relegation worries increased after a 1-1 draw at Hoffenheim left them in the drop zone.
The Sun Malaysia
