Leverkusen frustrated as Bayern clings on to draw
Bayern Munich maintained its eight-point lead at the Bundesliga summit after fending off a vibrant challenge from a frustrated Bayer Leverkusen, their much-anticipated clash somehow ending goalless.
The hosts dominated large periods of the match at BayArena between Germany's top two sides, but could not convert their attacking superiority into a winning goal that would close the gap on Bayern at the top of the table.
Looking to move within five points of its title rival, which failed to register a single shot on target, Leverkusen was the more threatening of the two teams and went closer to breaking the deadlock.
Jeremie Frimpong headed against the crossbar in the 22nd minute after Manuel Neuer parried Florian Wirtz's low drive and, four minutes later, Nathan Tella volleyed against the woodwork from Piero Hincapie's cross.
Tella was thwarted again midway through the second half, as Hiroki Ito cleared his header off the line after Jonathan Tah helped on Alex Grimaldo's corner.
Neuer then came to the rescue in stoppage-time to keep out substitute Amine Adli's volley, before Wirtz slotted the rebound agonisingly wide of the target from six yards out.
Despite the stalemate, Leverkusen is now unbeaten in six matches against Bayern, becoming the first side to enjoy such a streak since Hamburg (also six) between 2007 and 2009.
Alonso's side has also now gone 17 home matches without defeat, but did see a run of 10 straight victories come to an end.
Meanwhile, Bayern failed to record a single shot on target during a Bundesliga game for only the second time since 2004-2005, previously doing so against Wolfsburg in May 2008.
