Hoffenheim 1-1 Bayern Munich: Player ratings as Rekordmeister frustrated by hosts

Bayern Munich were held to a 1-1 draw by fourth-placed Hoffenheim on Saturday afternoon, despite seeing the lion's share of just about everything in the game.

The frustrating draw moves Die Rekordmeister up to 60 points for the season, now sitting 10 points clear of Borussia Dortmund at the Bundesliga summit having played two fixtures more than their nearest challengers.

The Bavarians were by far the more dominant force on the day and deserved to come away with three points but, following their ruthless 7-1 Champions League victory over RB Salzburg in midweek, their failure to put Hoffenheim to the sword was rather disappointing.

In what were sloppy opening exchanges, it was actually Hoffenheim that found themselves with the best opportunity to break the deadlock. A combination of Manuel Neuer and Benjamin Pavard, however, denied Andrej Kramaric a fourth-minute opener, despite the Croatian having two bites of the cherry.

Regaining their composure, Bayern subsequently grew into the game and started dominating the contest. And, after Serge Gnabry and Thomas Muller both saw good efforts thwarted by an alert Oliver Baumann, the visitors had the ball in the back of the net after 27 minutes.

Muller swooped low to head Gnabry's pull-back into the bottom corner, but the Bayern man's celebrations were cut short after he spotted the linesman's flag up in the air - a feeling he'd experience again in the not-so-distant future.

Before the 32-year-old's second disallowed goal of the afternoon, though, would come Hoffenheim's opener against the run of play. A swift breakaway move carried the side up the pitch with blistering pace, before David Raum's cross was clinically volleyed home at the back post by Christoph Baumgartner.

Reassuming control, however, Bayern kept probing and creating chances. Muller thought he'd finally got himself on the scoresheet four minutes before the interval, although was eventually found to have been in an offside position before latching onto Joshua Kimmich's fantastic lofted pass and lethally thrashing the ball through Baumann's legs - how's your luck?

Julian Nagelsmann's side did, however, finally get a deserved goal on the stroke of half time. For all their pretty play throughout the first half, it was a simple corner that got them back on level terms, as Kimmich's whipped delivery fell perfectly onto the head of Robert Lewandowski, who simply doesn't miss.

His short and punchy celebration reflected the mix of frustration and relief felt by the visitors before the sides went down the tunnel for half time.

Visibly spurred on, it took the visiting side just 40 seconds to put the ball in Baumann's net following the resumption of play but, quite unbelievably, they found the goal chalked off for a third time. This time, it was Lewandowski who occupied an offside position before Kingsley Coman's shot deflected off him and into the net.

Nagelsmann's men continued to press for an all-important second but, after wonderful chances went begging at the feet of Leroy Sane, Gnabry and Muller, a lack of potency eventually cost them two points.

Even so, Nagelsmann's side still boast a healthy lead at the top of the Bundesliga with a clash against Union Berlin to come before the international break.

Bayern Munich player ratings

1. Goalkeeper & defenders

Manuel Neuer (GK) - 8/10 - Couldn't do much about Hoffenheim's strike, but made a few crucial stops throughout the game. Can call himself a game-saver.

Benjamin Pavard (CB) - 7/10 - Was also on hand to deny Kramaric early on and remained alert throughout, notably demonstrating some great positional awareness in his own penalty area to register five clearances.

Niklas Sule (CB) - 7/10 - Strong and unforgiving with his defending, reading the game well and managing four ball recoveries throughout.

Lucas Hernandez (CB) - 6/10 - A decent outing, doing everything he needed to without dazzling. A textbook 6/10.

2. Midfielders

Serge Gnabry (RM) - 6/10 - Should have done more to support his colleagues defensively - notably in the build-up to the hosts' opening goal - but did represent a constant threat in advanced areas. Really should have scored as he was given a one-on-one opportunity in the second half, however.

Joshua Kimmich (CM) - 7/10 - Spread play with his typical grace and, although occasionally unable to stifle opposition counters, he worked tirelessly to recover possession six times.

Jamal Musiala (CM) - 3/10 - Became the youngest player to reach 50 Bundesliga appearances for Bayern - but it wasn't one to remember. Really bizarrely seemed to disappear from the game as time progressed.

Kingsley Coman (LM) - 7/10 - Diligent defensively and threatening offensively, looking one of his side's brightest sparks and delivering three key passes.

3. Forwards

Thomas Muller (RF) - 6/10 - Influential and heavily involved from the early stages and was very unlucky not to have broken the deadlock in the first half, although was sloppy not to have done in the second period.

Robert Lewandowski (ST) - 6/10 - Incredibly absent from proceedings, apart from notching the all-important equaliser.

Leroy Sane (LF) - 5/10 - Visibly up for the fight and carried the ball really well. Failed to make an impact in the final third, however, and notably squandered two gilt-edged opportunities early in the second half.

4. Substitutes

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (ST) - 6/10 - Livened things up a bit after coming on.

Marcel Sabitzer (CM) - 3/10 - Hardly noticeable.