Mueller Own Goal Helps Leverkusen Claim Hold Bayern

Munich: Bayern Munich's Thomas Mueller had a hapless return to action when he scored a costly own goal as the Bundesliga leaders were held 1-1 at home by third-placed Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.

Bayern are still well in charge of the title race with 59 points after 25 matches although the result will give a glimmer of hope to chasing Borussia Dortmund, who are second on 50 points but have a game in hand after their match at Mainz 05 was postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak among the home team.

Leverkusen stayed third on 45.

Bayern took an 18th-minute lead when defender Niklas Sule pounced on a loose ball to score after two botched clearances following a dangerous corner from Joshua Kimmich.

Leverkusen, who had won five of their previous six league matches heading into the game and boasted the second best league form in 2022, levelled in the 36th with a fortuitous goal.

Mueller, who had missed last week's 1-0 win at Eintracht Frankfurt due to a positive COVID-19 test, flummoxed his own goalkeeper Sven Ulreich as he turned a free kick from Kerem Demirbay into his own net.

It was the first time Bayern had drawn a match in the league since the opening day of the season in August when they were held 1-1 at Borussia Moenchengladbach and was also their first draw in the league at home.

Also on Saturday, second-bottom VfB Stuttgart breathed life into their bid for survival with a stirring comeback from two goals down to earn a 3-2 victory at home to Borussia Moenchengladbach.

Gladbach raced into a two-goal lead with goals from Alassane Plea and Marcus Thuram in the first half although the hosts quickly replied through captain Wataru Endo. Chris Fuhrich equalised early in the second half while Sasa Kalajdzic completed the comeback in the 83rd minute.

The win took Stuttgart to 22 points, three from escaping the relegation zone.

Elsewhere, an intriguing scrap to take control of the race for a Champions League place ended with honours even as RB Leipzig in fourth were held 1-1 at home by fifth-placed Freiburg, leaving both sides locked on 41 points.

Wolfsburg continued their march away from danger with a 1-0 win at home to seventh-placed Union Berlin, recording a third win in five games to reach 31 points in 12th place.

Eintracht Frankfurt, who are 10th, recorded the biggest win of the day by thrashing struggling Hertha Berlin 4-1 away, while mid-table VfL Bochum beat basement club Greuther Fuerth 2-1.

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