Head coach Xabi Alonso made just one change to his team from the 5-1 win at home to Darmstadt prior to the international break. That saw Robert Andrich come in for Palacios. The home side started strongly as the Werkself struggled to find their feet. Konrad Laimer had the first attempt before the defending champions went ahead. Edmond Tapsoba tried to clear a Leroy Sane corner but only flicked it on into the path of Kane, who nodded in at the far post with seven minutes gone.
However, Leverkusen soon started to get into the game and create chances themselves. But it was a free-kick from a central position that brought the equaliser as Grimaldo fired his shot over the wall and past Sven Ulreich into the top corner. The match then opened up into an end-to-end affair with chances for both sides. Victor Boniface had a couple of opportunities and a goal ruled out for offside, before Sane and Serge Gnabry had efforts of their own. It remained 1-1 going into the break, though.
Things continued where they left off in the second half. Jeremie Frimpong had the next big chance when played in by Grant Xhaka, only for Ulreich to save with his leg. Lukas Hradecky then did the same only moments later, producing a brilliant reaction stop to deny Kane from close range. Things then started to calm down as both teams looked to take less risks.
It was all build-up for a breathless closing period, which saw the 5,000 travelling Leverkusen supporters witness yet more attacking play from their team. Florian Wirtz dribbled his way through left of goal and fired across Ulreich, only to see the ball rebound off the far post with 78 minutes on the clock. Only moments later, Boniface got past Minjae Kim but was also denied by the Bayern goalkeeper. Then with four minutes of regular time remaining, substitute Mathys Tel squared for Goretzka to sweep home and put the hosts ahead. The drama wasn’t over there, though. After Jonas Hofmann went down under a challenge from Alphonso Davies, referee Daniel Schlager reviewed the scene on the monitor and opted for a penalty. Like he did against Bayern last season, Palacios held his nerve from the spot to convert and earn a deserved 2-2 draw, this time in Munich.
Fixtures come thick and fast now for Bayer 04 as the UEFA Europa League kicks off with the visit of Swedish champions Häcken to the BayArena on Thursday (18:45 CEST). Then Alonso and his team host promoted Heidenheim on Matchday 5 in the Bundesliga on Sunday (15:30).
Match stats:
Bayern: Ulreich – Laimer (De Ligt 85'), Upamecano, Kim, Davies – Goretzka, Kimmich (Mazraoui 61') – Sane, Müller (Musiala 61'), Gnabry (Tel 70') – Kane (Choupo-Moting 85')
Bayer 04: Hradecky – Kossounou, Tah, Tapsoba (Hlozek 90') – Frimpong (Adli 82'), Andrich (Palacios 46'), Xhaka, Grimaldo – Hofmann (Hincapie 90'+6), Wirtz (Amiri 90'+6) – Boniface
Goals: 1-0 Kane (7'), 1-1 Grimaldo (24'), 2-1 Goretzka (86'), 2-2 Palacios (90'+4, pen)
Yellow cards: Tuchel (coach) - Hofmann, Wirtz, Tapsoba
Referee: Daniel Schlager (Hügelsheim)
Attendance: 75,000 (Allianz Arena)
Midfielder Ruby Grant is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and joining Portuguese runners-up Sporting CP a year before her contract expires. The 24-year-old has been at the Werkself since January 2025.
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Bayer 04 have loaned Brazilian full-back Arthur to Bundesliga side Werder Bremen for one year. Arthur Augusto de Matos Soares – the full name of the right-back – has a contract with Leverkusen until 30 June 2031. At Werder, the 23-year-old is expected to make an impact and help the long-established club further consolidate their position in the Bundesliga.
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Bayer 04 have loaned defender Jeanuel Belocian to Spanish top-flight side Racing Santander. The 21-year-old defender joins the team currently ninth in La Liga until the end of the current 2026/27 season. Belocian’s contract remains valid until 30 June 2029. Last season, the 1.86-metre-tall U21 international was loaned to VfL Wolfsburg for six months.
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He knows the dressing room, the pitch and the club. But, above all, he knows the feeling of playing for the Werkself at the BayArena: Moussa Diaby is back in Leverkusen after three years. The lightning-fast winger has signed a contract with Bayer 04 until 2031 and he will once again wear the number 19 jersey. The left-footed player previously played for the club from 2019 to 2023, having arrived in the Rhineland from his native France as a promising young talent and eventually leaving the club – having established himself as one of the Bundesliga’s best attackers – to join Aston Villa in the Premier League. Now he has returned to Bayer 04 from Al-Ittihad FC in Saudi Arabia.
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