Late Exequiel Palacios penalty earns Bayer Leverkusen draw at Bayern Munich

By Sports Desk September 15, 2023

Exequiel Palacios’ last-gasp penalty rescued a point at Bayern Munich to keep Bayer Leverkusen top of the Bundesliga.

Leon Goretzka looked to have fired Munich to victory with just four minutes left before Palacios snatched a 2-2 draw in injury time.

Harry Kane opened the scoring to make it four goals in four league games but he was unable to inspire Bayern to victory.

Alejandro Grimaldo’s brilliant free-kick levelled in the first half and Lukas Hradecky denied Kane, Leroy Sane, Thomas Muller and Serge Gnabry.

Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen remain ahead of Bayern on goal difference after the opening four games of the season.

The teams were the only sides to win all of their first three matches this term and Bayern went to make it four early on.

The hosts took the lead after just seven minutes when Sane’s corner was flicked on for Kane at the far post to nod in unmarked from close range.

Sane shot over soon after, with the hosts on top, but they were stunned after 25 minutes when Grimaldo bent in a free-kick from 20 yards.

It gave Leverkusen confidence and Victor Boniface had a goal disallowed for offside after 33 minutes.

Muller and Gnabry forced Hradecky into smart stops before he denied Sane with a fine fingertip save and then thwarted Goretzka from point-blank range just before the break.

Boniface – who has five goals in five games this season – lobbed onto the roof of the net as he tried his luck from the halfway line as the frantic pace continued into the second half.

Hradecky continued to frustrate the hosts when he superbly kept Kane out after 57 minutes.

But Leverkusen were breached with four minutes left when substitute Mathys Tel, who enjoyed an impressive cameo, crossed for Goretzka to sweep in a first-time finish.

Boniface, though, should have made it 2-2 just a minute later when he blazed over with the goal gaping but they were given a reprieve in stoppage time.

Alphonso Davies fouled Jonas Hofmann in the box and, after a VAR check, Palacios found the top corner from the spot.

There was still time for more drama when Dayot Upamecano thought he had won it for Bayern in the ninth minute of stoppage time, only to be ruled offside after lashing in from a corner.

Related items

  • Ricketts praises Shaw as City striker adds WSL Golden Boot award to accolades Ricketts praises Shaw as City striker adds WSL Golden Boot award to accolades

    As expected, Jamaica and Manchester City forward Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw won the Barclays Women's Super League (WSL) Golden Boot award by a distance, becoming the first player from the club to win the prize in their 10 years in the top flight.

    The award marks a clean sweep of individual prizes for Shaw, who also won the Football Writers' Association (FWA) Player of the Year award and the Women's Super League Player of the Year award in recent weeks.

    Shaw’s tally of 21 goals ensured that she finished eight goals clear of Chelsea's Lauren James and Brighton’s Elisabeth Terland, who both ended with 13 goals apiece.

    The 27-year-old Shaw averaged a goal every 66 minutes in the league this season, accounting for over a third of the City's total league goals. During her impressive exploits, the Jamaican also became the Club’s record goalscorer in the process, when she found the net in a 3-1 Manchester derby win at the Etihad Stadium.

    The forward's campaign was cut short in April after suffering a broken leg in City's 5-0 home win against West Ham.

    Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president Michael Ricketts again hailed the towering striker on her remarkable achievements throughout the 2023/24 campaign.

    "It's pleasing to see Khadija receiving multiple accolades for her achievements," Ricketts said.

    "She obviously worked hard to improve her craft and the results have been overwhelming. The management and staff of the federation congratulate her heartily and wish her a speedy recovery from her injury,” he added.

    Meanwhile, Shaw's teammate Khiara Keating became the youngest player to win the Women's Super League Golden Glove award.

    Keating, 19, kept nine clean sheets in 22 league games for City as they finished second behind Chelsea in the title race. Manchester United's Mary Earps kept seven clean sheets in 22 games, while Chelsea's Hannah Hampton has managed six in 10 matches.

    The young shot stopper played just three league games for City last season, spending most of the second half of the campaign on loan at then-Championship side Coventry United.

  • Emery admits 'I have my dreams' with Villa after sealing Champions League qualification Emery admits 'I have my dreams' with Villa after sealing Champions League qualification

    Unai Emery has his sights set on winning the Premier League or Champions League with Aston Villa after securing a top-four finish earlier this week.

    Fifth-place Tottenham's defeat to title-chasing Manchester City on Tuesday meant Villa will play in Europe's premier club competition next season for the first time in 41 years.

    Emery's side conclude a memorable season – in which they also reached the Europa Conference League semi-finals – away at Crystal Palace on the final day.

    And the Spaniard is already focused on achieving bigger and better things with Villa. 

    "It really was amazing when the [Tottenham-Manchester City] match finished," he smiled. "At the beginning of the season, it was really a dream. Of course, we worked hard to try to be there.

    "I want to get better, and I have my dreams, and I believe in my dreams. Of course, my objectives are to win the Premier League or the Champions League. We are not contenders, but it is our dream to achieve something like that."

    Meanwhile, Palace have enjoyed a strong finish to the season, winning five of their last six games.

    The Eagles could seal a top-half finish with a victory – and other results going their way – and Oliver Glasner has urged his players to use that as inspiration at Selhurst Park.

    "I'm pleased with the performances we've had," he said. "We want to win. We always focus on what we can influence. If we don't do our job, we don't win, we can't be 10th. It's good motivation at home to say thank you to the fans."

    PLAYERS TO WATCH

    Crystal Palace – Jean-Philippe Mateta

    Mateta has scored in each of his last six home Premier League appearances for Palace, netting eight goals along the way. 

    He is now aiming to become only the second Frenchman after Thierry Henry to find the net in seven successive Premier League appearances on home soil.

    Aston Villa – Ollie Watkins

    Watkins has recorded the most assists in the Premier League this season with 13.

    Only Ashley Young has ever provided more during a single Premier League campaign for Villa (14 in 2007-08).

    MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW

    Palace are unbeaten on each of the previous 11 occasions they have finished a top-flight season with a home match (winning seven, drawing four).

    By contrast, Villa have only won once in the 25 occasions they have finished a league campaign with an away game (drawn seven, lost 17).

    That sole victory came against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in 2001-02.

    On a brighter note, Villa are unbeaten in their last 10 Premier League away games in London, winning five of their six this term. 

    With 16 such points this season, a win or draw here would set a new Premier League record for the most achieved during a single campaign.

    Although, you must go back to their title-winning season of 1980-81 for the last time they completed a league double over Palace.

    OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

    Crystal Palace: 31.8%
    Aston Villa: 39.5%
    Draw: 28.7

  • Leverkusen have no time to soak in 'Neverlusen' season - Alonso Leverkusen have no time to soak in 'Neverlusen' season - Alonso

    Xabi Alonso says it will take time for Bayer Leverkusen's undefeated run to their maiden Bundesliga to sink in.

    Long derided as 'Neverkusen' for their failure to win a major title for decades, Leverkusen became the first-ever team in the Bundesliga to complete a full season without a loss following a 2-1 victory over Augsburg in the season finale on Saturday.

    In fact, across the top five European leagues, only Arsenal (2003-04) and Juventus (2011-12) have achieved an invincible season since the start of the millenium. 

    The club hailed the achievement by giving themselves a new nickname on their social media channel - 'Bayer 04 Neverlusen'.

    "It is an exceptional season, not only in Germany but in Europe," Alonso said in a press conference.

    "We deserve now to be part of that history of European football. In 20 years, we will look back, and we will say 'we did that'.

    "It is an important day for the club. We have to be proud of the way we played. 90 points and undefeated. We need a bit more time to value this title. The first Bundesliga title but a big Bundesliga title victory."

    Alonso's team also stretched their European record unbeaten run across all competitions this season to 51 matches as they look to complete the treble next week. 

    Leverkusen face Atalanta on Wednesday in the Europa League final before taking on Kaiserslautern in the German Cup final on May 25.

    "I believe it [the unbeaten title win], but I need more time. But we have no time because we have the next big goal [on Wednesday]. It is unique opportunity," Alonso added.

    "We will remember this day. It is a special day to have the league trophy here and having done it undefeated. This team has now been engraved in Bundesliga history."

© 2023 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.