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)
Four Bayer 04 players are in action at the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations being played in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January 2026: Eliesse Ben Seghir for the hosts, Edmond Tapsoba with Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Maza for Algeria and Christian Kofane with Cameroon. Updates on the AFCON matches involving Werkself players...
Show more
Due to the last-minute postponement of the Bundesliga match between Hamburg and the Werkself on Tuesday, 13 January, Bayer 04 will reimburse the ticket price to all 3,500 fans who had already travelled to Hamburg as a sign of appreciation. The tickets remain valid for the rescheduled match (date not yet set).
Show more
Bayer 04 Leverkusen will have to manage without centre-back Edmond Tapsoba in the coming weeks. The Burkina Faso international returned to the Werkself from the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco with a muscle injury.
Show more
The Bundesliga fixture between Hamburger SV and Bayer 04 Leverkusen has been postponed at short notice.
Show more
Bayer 04 face Hamburger SV for the first time in almost eight years. Although the Hanseatic city team are often below par on the road, they are regularly in top form in front of their own fans. In particular, 18-year-old shooting star Luka Vuskovic is proving to be a real bonus for Merlin Polzin's team, both in attack and defence. However, that should not scare the Werkself: Not only was the last defeat against the newly promoted team 17 games ago, but Kasper Hjulmand's players are in with a chance of securing their fifth win in six games against HSV. Today’s matchday news.
Show more
