Schmidt's Wolfsburg fight back to deny Bayern top spot

Bayern Munich 2-2 Wolfsburg
(Lewandowski pen 33', Robben 42' - Arnold 56', Didavi 83')

Daniel Didavi's exquisite header capped a fine performance from Wolfsburg, who recovered from being 2-0 down at half-time to earn a well-deserved point at the Allianz Arena.

Bayern, who made five changes from the side that swept Schalke aside in midweek, took the lead through a Robert Lewandowski penalty, although the decision to award the spot-kick was very harsh, with minimal contact between the Polish striker and Wolfsburg's Marcel Tisserand.

Arjen Robben added a second before the break and it was another fortunate goal for the hosts, with Robben's shot deflecting off Rafinha and wrongfooting Wolfsburg goalkeeper Keon Casteels.

But Wolfsburg kept their heads and halved the deficit in emphatic fashion, with Max Arnold hammering a long-range free kick over the Bayern wall and into the net - although Manuel Neuer's understudy Sven Ulreich won't want to see the goal again as he woefully flapped at the ball as he attempted to punch it clear.

Wolfsburg drew level with seven minutes to play through Didavi, who brilliantly glanced Paul Verhaegh's cross in off the post. The point moves Wolfsburg up to 11th, while Bayern remain second, behind leaders Borussia Dortmund on goal difference.

 

As it happened:

FT - Bayern 2-2 Wolfsburg

Wolfsburg fight back from two goals down to deny Bayern all three points. A fantastic point for the visitors in Martin Schmidt's first game in charge.

86' James Rodriguez has come off the bench for the final few minutes and is immediately into the action, but can only steer a volley at the far post wide. After his goal against Schalke, shouldn he have started?

82' GOAL! Bayern 2-2 Wolfsburg! (Didavi) Didavi's header draws the visitors level! What a turnaround, and you have to say Wolfsburg are good value for this. They've stayed in the game and if they hang on for a few minutes, will have earned a huge point.

76' Almost 3-1! Ribery almost puts the game safe but blazes over from 15 yards after Thomas Müller created the chance with a deft backheel that wrongfooted the entire Wolfsburg defence - but Ribery couldn't finish.

73' Robben bends one from 25 yards but Casteels palsm it around his right-hand post.

70' Malli gets into a promising position for Wolfsburg but delays his cross and that allows Mats Hummels to get across and make a vital interception. That was a great opening for the guests.

67' Midway through the second half and Bayern are edging this one against a Wolfsburg team that look like they could sneak a point. 

65' Wolfsburg have a spring in their step now and are making it difficult for Bayern to develop any kind of rhythm to their play. Bayern are a long way from their best at the moment.

60' Bayern fans whistling for a penalty after Lewandowski is caught by Casteels, who rushed out of his goal to make a clearance. Lewandowski needs a minute to get back to his feet, but another penalty is wishful thinking.

56' GOAL! Bayern 2-1 Wolfsburg (Arnold). Arnold pulls one back for Wolfsburg with a blistering free-kick, although Ulreich has to do better there. Game on!

48' Bayern looking to put this game to bed early in the second half as Ribery finds space down the left and cuts back to Robben, whose first time shot skims the top of the bar. Combined age 67 and still slicing Bundesliga defences in half.

46' We're back underway...

HT - Bayern 2-0 Wolfsburg. That's the first 45 minutes done and dusted and Bayern are in complete control. Their first goal was somewhat fortuitous and the second was a bit lucky too.

42' GOAL! Bayern 2-0 Wolfsburg (Robben). Robben drives forward and has a go from the edge of the box, it flicks off the back of Rafinha's leg and wrongfoots Casteels in the Wolfsburg goal.

40' The goal is tough on Wolfsburg, who haven't shown much going forward but have been very organised out there and made it hard for Bayern to break them down. 

32' GOAL! Bayern 1-0 Wolfsburg (Lewandowski pen). The Pole calmly dispatches from the spot to give Bayern the lead, but the decision was very harsh. Lewandowski tangled with Tisserand in the box but hit the deck very easily. 

26' William fouls Ribery and goes into the book. Yellow card number three.

25' Ribery drives forward and looks to slot a pass through to Lewandowski, but the Pole was not on the Frenchman's wavelength and made a run in the opposite direction to Ribery's pass. Cue a collective groan inside the Allianz.

20' Wolfsburg show signs of life as Arnold seizes on a loose ball 25 yards from goal and has a goal from distance, but his shot clears the bar by a metre or so.

17' Wolfsburg's Tisserand is also in the book, for a foul on Lewandowski. The referee is having a busy night.

15' Vidal picks up the first yellow card of the night. A somewhat exuberant challenge on Camacho leaves the Wolfsburg man with a bloody knee, and that's a simple decision for the referee. 

9' Bayern completely controlling the game, with Wolfsburg sitting very deep. It could be a long and frustrating evening for Bayern, who will need to stay patient.

5' Five minutes in and Wolfsburg are yet to really get out of their own half. A brief foray forward was quickly snuffed out by Hummels.

3' Bayern putting Wolfsburg under some early pressure. Boateng slams a header at goal and it's stabbed off the line before Bayern are able to follow up. A strong start by the home side.

1' We're underway!

20:15 - For Wolfsburg's new coach Martin Schmidt, it doesn't get much tougher for an opening assignment than a trip to the Allianz. He said in the build-up to this game: "You can put five, six or seven players at the back and say an 'Our Father' in the hope things go well. At the same time though, you can pick up points by being courageous."

20:05 - The teams are out. Carlo Ancelotti has made five changes from the side that beat Schalke 3-0 in midweek, with Süle, Martinez, James, Tolisso all Coman dropping to the bench. Hummels, Boateng, Ribery, Vidal and Robben come in.

20:00 - We're 30 minutes from kickoff at the Allianz Arena.