Spoils shared: Bayern nick draw off Dortmund late

For the first time all season, Borussia Dortmund have failed to win at home. Nuri Sahin's BVB entered Saturday evening's highly anticipated "Top-Spiel" with rivals FC Bayern München hoping to win back-to-back matches against the record champions for the first time in well over a decade. As Sahin's Schwarzgelben clung to a narrow lead against Vincent Kompany's FCB, a controversial non-stoppage from match official Sven Jablonski enabled Bayern to equalize late. 

Both coaches stuck with their projected tactical formations. A cagey start to the match left viewers without much highlight-worthy in the opening 25 minutes. The two teams mostly traded possession in midfield over the course of a highly physical contest. BVB defender Waldemar Anton had to exit injured. Spurred on by their hometown fans, Dortmund began to make some more promising incursions into the attacking third as the half-hour-mark approached. The first real chance of the game came from a relatively simple run. As it turned out, this opportunity would result in the opening goal. 

Gittens opted to run straight at goal in the 27th. Shaking off the slow uptake-marking from FCB right-back Konrad Laimer, Gittens raced into the box and fired a low shot past a not-entirely-ready Manuel Neuer. Bayern had difficulty mustering up a response, in part thanks to the fact that team talisman Harry Kane had to be subbed off injured in the 33rd. Dortmund came closer to increasing their lead via Marcel Sabitzer (37th) and Serhou Guirassy (42nd). BVB keeper Gregor Kobel did well to reach a ball before Kane's replacement (Thomas Müller) at 45+2. 

Jamal Musiala tested Kobel in the 49th. Apart from that, however, the general flow of the match continued after the restart. The league-leaders circulated the ball among their ranks well, but couldn't come up with any useful offensive actions. Musiala (59th) and Laimer (60th) supplied poor finishing unworthy of an equalizer. At the other end, former Bayern man Sabitzer couldn't come up with an emphatic enough finish in the 62nd. Injuries, fouls., substitutions proceeded to render the match choppy for a long stretch until the equalizer finally came five minutes from time. 

A seemingly failed free-kick in the 85th produced the 1-1. Leroy Sané fired a direct take into Niklas Süle's face. Play continued despite the fact that Süle - also hit by teammate Ramy Bensebaini - appeared hurt. Michael Olise took advantage of the Dortmund protests and fired in a cross that Musiala headed in. Given the performances from both teams, there was something of a fair feel to the result. Sahin's side will nevertheless be highly disappointed that the equalizer came in such a contentious fashion.