BERLIN — Cologne became the first side to stay undefeated against Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga this season, working hard to come from behind and snatch a 1-1 draw on Saturday.
Cologne is unbeaten in its last 11 games going back to last season, while Bayern dropped points for the first time this season to follow Wednesday’s 1-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.
"We’re disappointed but don’t need to worry. We shouldn’t forget that our start to the season was really good," said Carlo Ancelotti, the only Bayern coach to win his first eight matches. "The last two games weren’t good, but I’ve huge trust in my players."
Anthony Modeste claimed the visitors’ equalizer with just under half an hour remaining, time enough for Bayern to twice hit the post in a frenetic finale.
Bayern’s Joshua Kimmich continued his remarkable recent form by breaking the deadlock five minutes before the break. The midfielder scored with a diving header to Juan Bernat’s cross for his third league goal, and his fifth in six games across all competitions.
Bayern went close again in the second half when Javi Martinez struck the post after a corner, before Modeste stunned the home fans with the equalizer, stretching acrobatically to reach Marcel Risse’s cross from the right and lift the ball over the despairing Manuel Neuer.
Ancelotti reacted by sending on Arturo Vidal and David Alaba with 20 minutes remaining but it was the visitors who next had the ball in the net through Yuya Osako. He was offside, however.
Then halftime substitute Thomas Mueller drew a brilliant reflex save from Timo Horn at the other end, the Cologne ‘keeper pushing his effort onto the post.
Near the end, Bernat struck the left post for Bayern, and Cologne’s Simon Zoller was agonizingly wide of the far post in injury time.
Watch Bundesliga highlights: Bayern Munchen 1, Koln 1 || Hertha BSC 2, Hamburger SV 0 || Ingolstadt 1, Hoffenheim 2 || Darmstadt 2, Werder Bremen 2 || Freiburg 1, Frankfurt 0 || Bayer Leverkusen 2, Borussia Dortmund 0
BAYER LEVERKUSEN 2, BORUSSIA DORTMUND 0
Dortmund could have closed to within a point of Bayern but failed to take advantage of the leader’s slip-up and slumped to its second defeat.
Admir Mehmedi headed the home side in front early from a poorly defended corner and while Dortmund showed greater urgency after the break, it wasn’t until the 73rd minute that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang really tested Leverkusen ‘keeper Bernd Leno.
Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez killed off the visitors’ hopes with his fifth goal of the season minutes later.
HERTHA BERLIN 2, HAMBURGER SV 0
Markus Gisdol’s tenure at Hamburg got off to a bad start in Berlin, where Vedad Ibisevic celebrated the birth of his daughter the night before by scoring twice to take Hertha second, three points behind Bayern.
The Bosnian striker stopped Alexander Esswein’s deflected effort with his left foot and prodded it home with his right before the half-hour mark, and sealed the win with his fifth goal of the season with 20 minutes remaining.
Hertha ‘keeper Rune Jarstein earlier produced an outstanding save to push former Hertha forward Pierre Lasogga’s free kick onto the crossbar.
Gisdol took over on Monday from Bruno Labbadia, sacked the day before after Hamburg took just one point from the opening five games. It’s now six after five consecutive defeats.
Also, Vincenzo Grifo scored early for Freiburg to beat visiting Eintracht Frankfurt 1-0, Hoffenheim won at Ingolstadt 2-0, and Werder Bremen drew at Darmstadt 2-2.
