Bayern Munich were made to work hard for a point on the road as they came from behind to draw 2-2 at Augsburg in a dramatic Bundesliga clash, with Harry Kane playing a pivotal role in the comeback despite not finding the net himself.
The German champions looked set to suffer an unexpected defeat for much of the contest, as Augsburg pushed hard to cause an upset in front of their own supporters. However, Bayern showed their trademark resilience late in the game, finding the goals needed to salvage a share of the spoils just as the match appeared to be slipping away from them.
Kane, who has been a driving force for Bayern since his move to Bavaria, was at the heart of the fightback, setting up both of his side's goals in the 2-2 draw. The England captain's vision and delivery proved decisive as Bayern scrambled to avoid what would have been a damaging defeat in the title race.
Despite the dramatic equaliser, the result represents a missed opportunity for Bayern, who had the chance to move to the top of the Bundesliga table with a victory in Augsburg. Instead, they had to settle for a draw, leaving them short of the summit as the season continues to unfold.
The draw will raise some questions about Bayern's away form and their ability to see out tight contests against lower-placed opposition. Augsburg, for their part, will be left to rue missing out on a famous victory after pushing the German giants so close to a surprise defeat.
The late twist in the match underlines the unpredictable nature of the Bundesliga this season, with Bayern's dominance being tested by sides further down the table. While the champions have shown they still have the quality to find a way back into games, the inability to close out matches convincingly could prove costly over the course of a long campaign.
For Augsburg, the result offers encouragement despite the frustration of seeing a potential win slip away so late on. Taking two goals off the champions and coming within minutes of a historic victory will give the home side plenty of confidence as they look to build on this performance in their upcoming fixtures.
Bayern will now turn their attention to their next assignment, looking to bounce back from a result that, while not a defeat, will not sit entirely comfortably with a squad and coaching staff used to setting the pace at the top of German football. The margins at the top of the Bundesliga remain tight, and dropped points of this nature could have significant implications as the race for the title develops further.
Kane's continued involvement in Bayern's attacking play, even without adding to his own goal tally on this occasion, demonstrates the forward's importance to the side beyond just finishing chances. His creative contribution at Augsburg will be seen as a silver lining for Bayern as they reflect on a result that ultimately denied them top spot in the standings.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport Football.