Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany is keeping his fingers crossed that Harry Kane recovers from an injury sustained in Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Bayer Leverkusen in time for their upcoming Champions League match against Aston Villa. Kane, who failed to register a shot against Leverkusen, was hurt in a late collision at the Allianz Arena and was visibly in pain before he limped off the field. Despite the setback, Bayern maintained their position at the top of the Bundesliga standings after Robert Andrich’s long-range strike for the visitors was matched by Aleksandar Pavlovic’s equalizer in the 39th minute.
Bayern also lead the new Champions League format, having thrashed Dinamo Zagreb 9-2 in their opening game, with Kane scoring four times. Aston Villa currently sit in fourth place in the standings. “I’m not a doctor, but I hope it’s nothing serious. It’s still early to say. Hopefully he’ll be fit for Wednesday,” Kompany told Sky Sports. Bayern’s sporting director, Max Eberl, was less optimistic, stating that the injury “doesn’t look good” for Kane, who tops the Bundesliga scoring charts with 10 goals in all competitions this season. “If Harry goes off the pitch, then it’s something,” Eberl remarked. “Now I hope he’s made of sturdy English wood.”
Leverkusen’s robust defensive display put a halt to Bayern’s perfect start to the season, but Kompany found positives in the performance. “As a Bayern coach, you always want to win. But the performance was as we’d hoped. The counter-pressing was positive, we won the second balls, we created so many chances,” the Belgian coach noted. “Normally in such a game, you don’t create many chances, but we did. It was a top game but there are still many games to go. We just have to keep going.” The result leaves Bayern with 13 points after five games, two points ahead of RB Leipzig at the top, while Leverkusen are third with 10 points.
Bayern outshot Leverkusen 18 to 3, but Xabi Alonso’s resilient side managed to hold on for the draw. Leverkusen’s defense was so tight that Kane failed to have a shot on goal for the first time in three years. Bayern dominated possession early on, with Jamal Musiala frequently exploiting gaps in the defense, while Leverkusen struggled to test Manuel Neuer in the first half hour. However, Leverkusen capitalized on their first chance in the 31st minute when Granit Xhaka chested down a corner and set up Andrich, whose low shot found the bottom corner through a crowd of players.
“We deserved more because we were clearly the better team,” Neuer told Sky Germany. “We had the better chances. The goal we conceded was very annoying.” The lead was short-lived, though, as Pavlovic’s half-volley from 25 meters sailed into the top corner, just out of goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky’s reach. “We can live with a point, better than Bayern. Defensive work was our top priority today. On a good day, Lukas saves Alex’s shot,” Andrich commented. For Pavlovic, it was redemption after his misplaced pass led to Leverkusen’s opening goal. “I’m happy with the performance, we dominated them and barely conceded any chances. I was very happy and emotional after my goal,” he said.
Serge Gnabry had two golden chances to put Bayern ahead early in the second half, but his first shot hit the post and his second narrowly missed the crossbar. Bayern continued to dominate, while Musiala was left frustrated when he was denied a penalty after a tussle with Xhaka in the box. Kane’s injury woes continued in the dying moments when he collided with Amine Adli and was replaced by Thomas Müller, who was then brought down in the box by Edmond Tapsoba, but Bayern were not awarded a penalty as the match ended in a draw.
