Bayern draw keeps title door ajar as Dortmund lose to Leipzig
Bayern Munich were held to a 1-1 draw at Union Berlin on Saturday, giving defending champions Bayer Leverkusen an outside chance of dragging themselves back into the Bundesliga title race.
Bayern, who also dropped points in a surprise loss at home to Bochum last week, could be just six points ahead if Leverkusen win at Stuttgart on Sunday.
"It was a game of two stories: the performance and the result," said Bayern coach Vincent Kompany. "I've been in football long enough to know this wasn't a bad performance away from home.
"Sometimes when you don't score it's not because the strikers don't put it in, it's because the defenders and the keepers do a lot of things right."
Bayern had most of the ball but struggled to break through a resolute Union defence.
With few chances in the opening period, Bayern's best chance came after 51 minutes when Harry Kane drilled a free-kick through the wall but into the palms of Frederik Ronnow.
Leroy Sane put the visitors ahead after 75 minutes when he skated through a crowded penalty area to tap in a Josip Stanisic pass.
Union were however the better team after the goal and the hosts levelled through Benedict Hollerbach, who was on the spot to take advantage of an error from inexperienced goalkeeper Jonas Urbig.
Union rose in intensity in the dying stages but were unable to land the killer blow which would have seen them beat Bayern for the first time in their history, on their 12th attempt.
Despite hovering dangerously close to the relegation spots for much of the season, Union have a strong record at home against the league's best sides.
Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Eintracht Frankfurt, Mainz, Freiburg and now Bayern have all left Berlin without winning.
Union coach Steffen Baumgart credited his side's "passion in defence", saying the hosts had "won a point that nobody would have expected" as they went seven clear of the relegation spots.
- Dortmund 'beat themselves' in Leipzig -
Champions League finalists in June, Dortmund's chances of reaching the competition next season look over after a 2-0 loss at RB Leipzig left them in 11th spot.
The hosts took the lead after 18 minutes when Xavi Simons tapped in a rebound after a Leipzig counter.
Lois Openda superbly volleyed home Simons' floated corner to double the lead just after half-time.
Dortmund laid siege to Leipzig's penalty area in the second half, hitting the crossbar three times, but could not break through despite a wealth of chances, with striker Serhou Guirassy spurning several good opportunities.
Dortmund will now need a miracle to avoid missing the Champions League for just the second time in the past 15 seasons.
Midfielder Pascal Gross admitted reaching the top four was "unrealistic".
"Big statements (about turning things around) are always easy, anyone can make them, but on the pitch we failed once again," he said.
Leipzig's win took them to fifth, level on points with fourth-placed Frankfurt, who play at Bochum on Sunday. Dortmund are seven points behind.
"You can't lose a game like that -- we beat ourselves, that's what happened today," said Dortmund coach Niko Kovac.
Unlikely Champions League candidates Mainz and Freiburg drew 2-2. Hosts Mainz, reduced to 10 men when Dominik Kohr saw red after 43 minutes, twice took the lead but Freiburg equalised both times.
The result leaves Mainz third and Freiburg sixth, with neither side having ever played in the Champions League.
An Alassane Plea hat-trick took Borussia Moenchengladbach to a 4-2 win at Werder Bremen, keeping the visitors on track for a return to European football.
Plea's first-half brace had Gladbach on track but Bremen scored twice in seven minutes through Romano Schmid and Andre Silva, his first goal for the club, to level things up at half-time.
Plea scored just two minutes into the second half and Germany striker Tim Kleindienst added another to seal the victory.
Augsburg's impressive 2025 continued with a 1-0 home win over Wolfsburg, with Phillip Tietz scoring the only goal.
Augsburg are now unbeaten in 10 in the league and have conceded just three goals this calendar year, the lowest mark in the top five European leagues.
dwi/mw
Topics
-
Leaders Bayern pegged back by Union, third-placed Mainz also held
Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich dropped points for the second straight weekend after a lacklustre 1-1 draw at Union Berlin on Saturday. Second-placed Bayer Leverkusen, who ended Bayern's run of 11 ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Bayern held to 1-1 draw at Union Berlin in Bundesliga after young goalkeeper's error
A mistake by young goalkeeper Jonas Urbig meant Bayern Munich dropped points for the second Bundesliga game in a row with a 1-1 draw at Union Berlin on Saturday. Bayern seemed on course for ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Late Hollerbach goal stuns Bayern in Bundesliga
A moment of uncertainty from goalkeeper Jonas Urbig allowed Benedict Hollerbach to score a late goal as Union Berlin secured a 1-1 home draw with Bayern Munich.ESPN - 20h -
Leverkusen roar back to beat Stuttgart 4-3 and slash Bayern's lead
Bayer Leverkusen showed late fight yet again to turn a 3-1 loss into a 4-3 victory at VfB Stuttgart on Sunday as they cut Bayern Munich's lead at the top of the Bundesliga to six points. Patrik ...Yahoo Sports - 12h -
Bayer Leverkusen vs. Bayern Munich how to watch, odds: UEFA Champions League Round of 16 picks, prediction
Martin Green has locked in his best bet for Tuesday's Bayern Munich vs. Bayer Leverkusen UEFA Champions League match on Paramount+CBS Sports - 5d -
Schick late show caps Leverkusen fightback to close gap on Bayern
An injury-time header from Patrik Schick helped Bayer Leverkusen to a come-from-behind 4-3 win at Stuttgart on Sunday, taking the defending Bundesliga champions to within six points of leaders ...Yahoo Sports - 12h -
Kane and Davies complete emphatic Bayern Munich win over Leverkusen
Normal service has been resumed in Germany. Perhaps it has in the Champions League, too, given Bayern Munich are in the quarter-finals for a sixth successive year. If Inter are treated with the ...The Guardian - 5d -
Bayern defender Kim ruled out against Union and maybe longer
Bayern Munich centre back Min jae Kim is the latest name at the Bundesliga leaders to suffer an injury. The South Korea international will be out for "the next couple of weeks" with an Achilles ...Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Bayer Leverkusen vs. Bayern Munich live stream: Where to watch UEFA Champions League online, odds, picks
Bayern carry a 3-0 advantage from the first legCBS Sports - 6d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Why Alexander Sorloth’s goal against Barcelona was not ruled out by VAR
Atletico Madrid appeared to have taken full control of their La Liga heavyweight clash against Barcelona, when Alexander Sorloth made it six games in a row scoring against the Catalan giants. ...Yahoo Sports - 9m -
Bengals go BPA in post-free agency mock draft
The Bengals don't just go after need in a new mock draft.Yahoo Sports - 12m -
“I try to be honest” – Pep Guardiola issues new verdict on Jack Grealish’s Manchester City behaviour
Pep Guardiola continues to hold firm belief in the performances and standards held by Jack Grealish in training and on the pitch when handed Manchester City opportunities.Grealish has played only ...Yahoo Sports - 13m -
Liverpool vs Newcastle LIVE: Result and reaction as Magpies claim historic Carabao Cup win
Liverpool 1-2 Newcastle: Magpies end 70-year wait to win major domestic trophy with victory at WembleyYahoo Sports - 14m -
Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool defeat has ‘shone a light’ on big problem facing Arne Slot
Carragher said Liverpool should target two players in the transfer window after defeat to NewcastleYahoo Sports - 16m
More in Sports
-
Why Alexander Sorloth’s goal against Barcelona was not ruled out by VAR
Atletico Madrid appeared to have taken full control of their La Liga heavyweight clash against Barcelona, when Alexander Sorloth made it six games in a row scoring against the Catalan giants. ...Yahoo Sports - 9m -
Bengals go BPA in post-free agency mock draft
The Bengals don't just go after need in a new mock draft.Yahoo Sports - 12m -
“I try to be honest” – Pep Guardiola issues new verdict on Jack Grealish’s Manchester City behaviour
Pep Guardiola continues to hold firm belief in the performances and standards held by Jack Grealish in training and on the pitch when handed Manchester City opportunities.Grealish has played only ...Yahoo Sports - 13m -
Liverpool vs Newcastle LIVE: Result and reaction as Magpies claim historic Carabao Cup win
Liverpool 1-2 Newcastle: Magpies end 70-year wait to win major domestic trophy with victory at WembleyYahoo Sports - 14m -
Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool defeat has ‘shone a light’ on big problem facing Arne Slot
Carragher said Liverpool should target two players in the transfer window after defeat to NewcastleYahoo Sports - 16m