With inputs from Associated Press
In a matchup that was touted to be the grand start to manager Julian Nagelsmann’s tenure at Bayern Munich, the Bundesliga champions were held for a 1-1 draw by Borussia Monchengladbach in the season opener on Friday.
Bayern had the first start to the game as they conceded early on in the first half, within 10 minutes. Alassane Plea, leading the line for the North Rhine-Westphalia club, opened the scoring for Gladbach. The Munich side had to yet again look towards their reliant talisman Robert Lewandowski for hope. And he didn’t disappoint. In the 42nd mark, the Polish forward volleyed home a corner from Joshua Kimmich.
Meanwhile, Dayot Upamecano twice looked like he conceded a penalty in the late stages of his Bayern debut, but referee Marco Fritz waved play on and received no contradiction from the video referee despite clear contact from the French defender on compatriot Markus Thuram on both occasions.
Taking over as the new boss after Hansi Flick’s departure, Nagelsmann lined up his side in a customary 4-2-3-1, with Niklas Sule and Upamecano as the centre-back pairing.
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Lewandowski started upfront with Thomas Mueller dropping behind him and Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sane starting out wide.
While Bayern were expectedly enjoying a lot of possession in the early minutes, they were disposed of the ball near the centre-half and Gladbach struck on the counter to score the first goal of the 2021/22 season. Lars Stindl laid it off on the plate for Plea and the French forward slotted it home calmly.
Goalkeeper Yann Sommer denied Lewandowski an immediate response, then again a short time later when Bayern’s bench was poised to celebrate. Fullback Josip Stanisic was next to test the Gladbach keeper.
But eventually, the equalizer came from a familiar source as Lewandowski got off the mark early on in the season.
Sommer made more saves in the second half as Gladbach were controversially denied two penalty shouts.
