BERLIN: Bayern Munich’s Thomas Mueller had a hapless return to action when he scored a costly own goal as the Bundesliga leaders were held 1-1 at home by third-placed Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.

Bayern dropped points for the second time in four league games and posed more questions than answers ahead of their Champions League last-16 second leg against Red Bull Salzburg on Tuesday, with the tie level at 1-1.

Niklas Sule, whose performances had been coming under extra scrutiny since his announced end-of-season switch to Borussia Dortmund, fired Bayern ahead in the 18th minute after Leverkusen failed to properly clear a corner.

Leverkusen equalised in the 36th when Bayern captain Thomas Mueller directed Kerem Demirbay’s harmless-looking cross past his own goalkeeper.

The visitors should have gone on to lead with Amine Adli hitting the post after a mistake from Bayern defender Dayot Upamecano amid other good chances before the break.

Bayern dominated in the second half but struggled to create many clear-cut chances, with Robert Lewandowski passing up a chance to win the game for the Bavarians late on.

Bayern, though, are still well in charge of the title race with 59 points after 25 matches although the result will give a glimmer of hope to chasing Dortmund, who are second on 50 points but have a game in hand after their match at Mainz 05 was postponed due to a Covid-19 outbreak among the home team. Leverkusen stayed third on 45.

An intriguing scrap to take control of the race for a Champions League place ended with honours even as RB Leipzig in fourth were held 1-1 at home by fifth-placed Freiburg, leaving both sides locked on 41 points.

The visitors led for the majority of the match after Ermedin Demirovic’s first-half goal but former Manchester City left-back Angelino’s 90th-minute goal kept Leipzig above their opponents on goal difference.

Union Berlin slipped four points behind Leipzig and Freiburg as the seventh-placed club suffered a fourth defeat in five Bundesliga matches, losing 1-0 at VfL Wolfsburg.

Hertha Berlin remained in the relegation play-off spot after suffering a 4-1 home defeat by Eintracht Frankfurt, while bottom club Greuther Fuerth lost 2-1 at Bochum.

VfB Stuttgart dragged themselves to within a point of Hertha by coming back from two goals down to beat fellow strugglers Borussia Moenchengladbach 3-2.

Published in Dawn, March 7th, 2022