Bayern Munich held to a 1-1 draw by Monchengladbach in Bundesliga opener

Bayern Munich had to fight their way back to earn a 1-1 draw against Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga opener at Borussia Park on Friday. Alassane Plea gave the home side the deserved lead in the 10th minute. Robert Lewandowski then equalized for Bayern before the end of first half. Although both sides came close to getting the winner, the goalkeeper’s made some fine saves to share the points. It was an entertaining end-to-end action for the 23,000 spectators in the 63,000 capacity stadium in Monchengladbach.

Adi Hutter’s side started the game brightly. They stretched Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer within three minutes of kick-off. Patrick Hermann’s shot from outside the penalty box went just wide of the goal. Few minutes later Hermann should have finished a quick break himself but instead miscued the pass to Lars Stindl.

Meanwhile the away side fell behind when left-back Alphonso Davies lost possession on the halfway line. The ball was moved to Stindl, who played a well-timed through ball to Plea to fire past Neuer.

In response at the other end, Gnabry chipped the ball to Thomas Mueller inside the penalty area. He set up Lewandowski, but the Polish striker’s volley was saved by Monchengladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer.

The Swiss goalkeeper was once again up to the task as he denied Josip Stanisic from inside the penalty area. However, in the 42nd minute Lewandowski levelled the score with a first-time volley from Kimmich’s corner.

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Before the hour-mark, Sommer denied Davies from close range. And then the Canadian left-back made a brilliant run down the left flank before delivering a cut back to Lewandowski inside the area. But his attempt was superbly kept out by the 32-year-old Monchengladbach custodian.

Meanwhile at the other end Hannes Wolf broke down the left flank and squared inside for Stindlt whose shot was kept out by the Neuer’s outstretched left hand.

With just ten minutes remaining substitute Marcus Thuram came within a whisker of restoring the lead but he failed to make a connection to the ball from close range. The 24-year-old striker then protested twice for a penalty after going down inside the box after challenges from Bayern defender Dayot Upamecano but the referee didn’t find the challenges to be worthy of giving a spot kick. And the match ended 1-1.

New Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann , who is yet to register his first win with the Bundesliga champions, has some work to do going forward.