Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern München battled to a contentious 1-1 draw, with two Bayern red cards defining a fiery Bundesliga encounter.
Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern München shared the points in a dramatic 1-1 draw at the BayArena on March 14, 2026. Luis Díaz's late equaliser for ten-man Bayern was overshadowed by two red cards, leaving both sides with much to discuss.
Bayern München entered this pivotal Bundesliga match at the top of the league table, boasting an impressive 66 points from 25 games. Leverkusen, sitting sixth, aimed to narrow the gap and assert their title credentials against the reigning champions.
The home side started brightly, and their early pressure paid off quickly. Aleix García fired Leverkusen into the lead in just the 6th minute. Patrik Schick provided a sharp assist, setting the BayArena crowd alight with his clever pass.
Bayern thought they had found an equaliser in the 26th minute through Jonathan Tah. However, VAR intervened, ruling out the goal for handball after a lengthy review, much to the frustration of the away team.
The first half took a dramatic turn in the 42nd minute. Bayern's Nicolas Jackson received a red card for a serious foul, reducing the visitors to ten men. This incident significantly altered Bayern's game plan for the remainder of the match.
Leverkusen held a slender lead at the break, with Bayern facing an uphill battle due to Jackson's dismissal. The second half promised increased intensity as both teams sought a decisive advantage in this high-stakes fixture.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Bayern showed resilience after the restart. Harry Kane saw a goal disallowed for handball by VAR in the 61st minute, further deepening Bayern’s sense of injustice.
Bayern's persistence eventually paid dividends in the 69th minute. Luis Díaz, assisted by Michael Olise, slotted home the equaliser, sparking a wave of relief and hope among the Bayern faithful. The goal demonstrated their fighting spirit.
However, the drama was far from over. Díaz received his second yellow card for diving in the 84th minute, resulting in a red card that left Bayern with only nine players. Leverkusen then pushed relentlessly for a winner, only to see a Jonas Hofmann goal disallowed for offside by VAR in stoppage time.
The final statistics reflected a keenly contested match. Leverkusen generated a higher Expected Goals (xG) of 2.22 compared to Bayern's 1.29, suggesting they created more clear-cut opportunities. Both teams registered 5 shots on target, but Bayern dominated possession with 58%.
This hard-fought draw means Bayern München maintains their lead at the top of the Bundesliga table, although the dropped points could be costly. Leverkusen, despite failing to secure victory, proved their mettle against the champions in an unforgettable encounter.
